At Salisbury Cathedral, Easter day began at 4:30 am with the Easter Vigil, before worshippers moved outside for the lighting of a fire. From this flame, the Easter Candle was lit and carried into the still-dark Cathedral – a powerful symbol of Christ’s rising from the dead and the journey from darkness into light. The celebration continued with the Easter Liturgy. As part of the dawn service, seven people, ranging in age from 12 to 69 and supported by friends and family, were confirmed, making their public declaration of faith on Easter Sunday, one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar.
This morning’s public affirmation of faith, expressed through confirmation, is reflected in 2025 figures across the Diocese of Salisbury, which show the highest number of confirmations since before the COVID-19 pandemic and a 26% increase on 2024. A total of 497 candidates from Sherborne to Devizes and Purbeck to Stonehenge were confirmed in 2025, with the highest growth area in the 16-19 age group, an increase of 71.4% on 2024. 
One of those confirmed was 19-year-old Liv. She said: “I go to a very charismatic Anglican church, I love it there, and my faith has grown massively being in this environment. After starting a new job, I found myself getting more and more involved with Salisbury Cathedral and completely fell in love with the beauty and liturgy and tradition of worshipping Jesus in this way. I chose to get confirmed because I love that being part of the Church of England can look so radically different for different people in different places. It’s a great example of faith crossing cultures and styles and meeting together in a mutual love of the Lord and joy in worshipping. The confirmation service itself felt so poignant, and I felt loved and treasured by everyone there, the people I knew and those I didn’t.”
Also confirmed in 2025 was David, who was confirmed later in life: “I was confirmed just a few weeks before I turned 70. It might seem late in life, but for me it wasn’t about discovering something new – there was no lightning flash moment, I’ve always believed. Church was part of life, but confirmation simply never happened. It was only after retiring that things shifted, and it struck me that it wasn’t about a dramatic conversion. It was about standing up and saying publicly what I had always believed, about properly joining the team. My family were wonderfully supportive, and my children summed it up perfectly: ‘About time, Dad.’ It was warm, affirming and deeply personal.”
Commenting on the confirmation figures, the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Stephen Lake, said: “These figures are a real source of joy and encouragement. Across our communities, we are seeing a gentle but growing curiosity about faith and a willingness to explore what it means to know and follow Jesus Christ. Each confirmation tells a story, often of a quiet journey of faith that has been unfolding over time, and it is deeply moving to see people of all ages taking this step. There is a sense of momentum: more people are discovering that faith has something meaningful to offer them. It speaks of a Church that is welcoming, hopeful and alive with the possibility of new beginnings.”
Watch the Bishop of Sherborne, Karen Gorham's, Easter message here.
photo credit Finnbarr Webster/Diocese of Salisbury