Never too late to be confirmed...

There's a lovely story in the Church Times this week about 93-year-old Dennis Minns. The former RAF Flight Lieutenant was confirmed at his Oxfordshiore care home in what he described as a 'deeply meaningful' service. https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/17-april/news/uk/joy-for-93-year-old-churchgoer-confirmed-in-care-home

The Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Gavin Collins conducted the care home confirmation service in Watlington with associate priest from St Mary's, Pyrton, the Revd Val Kearney. She said: Dennis has always held on to his faith. When I was an ordinand here, it was he who taught me what matins required of me, rather than the other way round. He came to our services in the home every week, and it was he who insisted it wouldn't be right to take communion without being confirmed.'

One day while listening to music by Faure in Dorchester Abbey he turned to a Christian friend and said that he'd like to be confirmed. The manager at his care home, Julie Copper, said following the confirmation:

'Dennis is a wonderful reminder that it's never too late to do something that is deeply meaningful. His enthusiasm and courage have inspired everyone at the home.'

Dennis' son David, a retired priest, gave the gospel reading at the service.

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