More than thirty young people from parishes around the county will be gathering in Southwell Minster on Saturday evening ( 2nd April 2011) for a mammoth service to confirm their Christian faith – with two bishops joining together to pray for them.

The Youth Confirmation service, which will involve 36 young people from nine different parishes including churches in Nottingham, Bramcote, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Lowdham, Stapleford, Southwell, Mansfield and North Wheatley, will include music, readings and prayers led by young people.

Youth Ministry Adviser for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, Angela Brymer-Heywood said: “Confirmation is an opportunity for young people to say they want to follow Jesus and make promises for themselves that may have been made for them when they were a baby. Some young people have been baptised recently by full immersion at Bramcote, Lowdham & Holy Trinity Southwell. They are also being commissioned into active service as Christians both in the Church and in the world. It can be hard for young people to be open about their Christian faith but they are being encouraged to bring a friend to the service to show them why it’s so special and important.”

Angela said she was pleased that both the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler and the Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter, will be showing their joint support for all the young people by taking part in the confirmations together.