First Communion & Confirmation

First Communion

At St Mary’s, we are very happy to prepare children to receive Holy Communion. According to the Diocese of Ely’s guidance, children who would like to be admitted to Holy Communion need to have the full support of their parents, and spend a few weeks preparing for this important event by learning more about their faith in a small group, and specifically talking about what receiving the bread (and wine) of Holy Communion (or Mass, or the Eucharist) will mean to them.

Some young people, when they first become communicants, prefer only to receive the bread; this is completely fine and can be discussed during the preparation period. Children are usually aged 7 or older when they take this important step in their lives.

Confirmation

Confirmation is the opportunity for people to say publicly for themselves that they accept the Christian faith into which they were baptised. It is also the occasion on which they receive a very special blessing from a bishop, who represents the wider church beyond our own congregation. The bishop prays for the candidates to be spiritually strengthened (‘confirmed’) by God’s Holy Spirit, and lays hands on their heads. As well as opening themselves to this special blessing of the Holy Spirit, the confirmed person acquires the full responsibilities of being a member of the church, an ‘adult Christian’ in the Anglican tradition.

Until recently, in the Church of England, confirmation was received by teenagers, or even children, and after that they received Holy Communion for the first time, but because young people may now receive Communion before they are confirmed this takes some of the pressure away from being confirmed while still quite young. Confirmation can be left till later, when the candidate is an adult, or on the threshold of adult life, and would like to commit their life to Christ and seek his strengthening in a mature way.

We usually advertise the opportunity for Confirmation preparation once a year - in 2024 we will be inviting candidates to be confirmed at Ely Cathedral on 24th November - and welcome enquiries about it at any time. As with First Communions, preparation takes place through learning and discussion in age-appropriate ways in small groups. All are welcome. Please contact us if you would like to know more.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

Welcome to St Mary's, Linton

Where and When

Our main service is 10am every Sunday, after an early said Holy Communion in traditional language at 8am, but there are a number of other ways we meet, both in church (details here) and in homes and other venues across our community. There is some parking on Church Lane, or on the High St, or Medical Centre car park, just a few minutes walk away. If you're new or visiting us, do say hello to one of our welcomers on the door.

The 10am is usually an hour long, sometimes less, and we serve tea, coffee and biscuits after the 10am service, apart from Cafe Church - every fourth Sunday morning - where coffee, etc is served before we begin. All refreshments are free, but donations to keeping our ancient church open for everyone are always appreciated. Thanks.

Other types of worship offer contemplative space (The Well, every second Sunday evening at 6pm), Taize worship, as well as prayer for healing (Services of Hope and Healing) where blessing with anointing is available. Evensong (BCP) takes place in Bartlow, 5 minutes drive from Linton, every third Sunday at 6pm. We are very active in our community and host school worship - our Infant School meet here every Friday in term time - and a range of special events (such as a recent Vigil for Ukraine).

St M's is open every day of the year (c9.30am-4pm), for locals and visitors alike. Many people drop by to light a candle, or to find some quiet, or to read or draw with their child or grandchild. Dogs are most welcome, too.

Celebrating life events

If you're visiting our website because you would like to arrange a wedding, funeral or Christening, do contact us. We'd love to help you mark these precious times in your life and the lives of your loved ones. It doesn't matter if you are not a churchgoer - all are welcome here.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is a loo in the Pavilion (which has wheelchair access) at the back of the church.

Young people

We really value worshipping God all together as a family. There is an area in the south aisle dedicated to children and their carers, which allows them to take part in the service, while also having books, drawing materials, toys and other resources to hand. We really don't mind if your child makes a noise - they are as welcome as anyone else!

There are other activities, like Messy Church and Tots in Tow, that nurture young people's faith in positive and caring ways. More info can be found on this site.

Children

Root & Branch (RnB) Groups

Being part of one of our small groups is a great way to make new friends, share questions of life and faith and explore the Bible. No previous experience necessary. Four groups meet across the Linton Parishes; three in homes across Linton. Usually, we meet fortnightly, in 'terms' of around four or five dates. Check out our Small Groups and see if there’s a time that works for you, and let us know if you'd like to come along.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Peace and blessings,

Revd Paul