BAPTISM

FOR YOUR CHILD

 

 If you are thinking about...

 

BAPTISM FOR YOUR CHILD (sometimes called 'christening')

The Church of England has TWO services for welcoming children

one to say THANK YOU  for our new baby,

and another to make PROMISES

of Christian commitment and church membership.

The first service is called :

 

'THANKSGIVING

FOR THE GIFT OF A CHILD ..."

 

This service:

          

  • looks to the PAST and gives thanks

  • is a FAMILY celebration - welcoming our new baby

  • can be arranged IMMEDIATELY - either in a church service or as a separate family occasion

  • includes a NAMING ceremony and prayers for God's blessing on our child and home

     Parents can choose Supporting Friends (like Godparents), receive a CERTIFICATE and their child's name is entered in the church's official Register of Thanksgivings.

The second service is called:

 

 

"HOLY BAPTISM... "

 

This service:

                                                   

  • looks to the FUTURE and makes promises

  • is a CHURCH celebration - welcoming a new member

  • is a SPECIAL SERVICE arranged every 2 or 3 months as part of our church programme

  • includes a  DECLARATION of faith in Christ and commitment to church membership

 i  Parents already share regularly in worship. They attend a PREPARATION evening and choose Godparents to pray for their child.        

IN OUR PARISHES....

We like to arrange a THANKSGIVING SERVICE as soon as possible after you first contact us ..... and to make this a real FAMILY CELEBRATION with all your family and friends. This service includes a 'Naming' of your child, gives you the opportunity to invite 2-3 friends to stand with you - and includes prayers for God's blessing on your new baby and home.

Because this is a FAMILY occasion, the service can either take place as part of a Sunday church service or as a separate family event at a separate time (not necessarily a Sunday). Hymns can be chosen and friends can take part. 

Email our Webmaster to let us know which you prefer and to agree the date!

As the Thanksgiving is your FAMILY CELEBRATION, and your child's baptism may not be arranged for a little while later, many parents like to invite family and friends to the 'Thanksgiving' and, after the service, to hold a party to celebrate the birth of their new baby.

FOR PARENTS ALSO WANTING BAPTISM FOR THEIR CHILD

  • as Baptism includes promises of commitment to Christ and church membership, we assume parents already WORSHIP with us - or are beginning to do so.

  • at regular intervals we hold PREPARATION EVENINGS to discuss baptism. The dates and times (on varying evenings to suit different couples) are announced on our Sunday church notice sheet ('Pew News'). Both parents attend the evening - either together or coming on different evenings.

  • if we decide to commit ourselves and our child to Christ in Baptism, we discuss which of the church's future baptism dates is most convenient for us....

NOTES ON BAPTISM

  • It is best not to approach Godparents until nearer the baptism preparation evening.

  • At least one parent and all Godparents must have been baptised themselves

  • For pastoral reasons we do not normally baptise adults or their children who live outside our parishes - unless they are on our electoral roll.

Just a 'Splash on the  Head' ?

A recent quotation from a newspaper about christening asked whether a 'Splash on the head' was the same as being raised in a religion?

The church does not see BAPTISM as an 'event' -just a special occasion, but as part of a JOURNEY .... a journey shared by parents and children ... a journey of a growing FAITH in Jesus... and of sharing in the life of His family, the church.

 

ADULT BAPTISM

If you want to make an adult confession of faith and be welcomed into the Church, you can discuss it with our Rector.  He will probably suggest that you prepare for baptism and confirmation at the same time and that you join a confirmation class.

Our church runs informal courses for its confirmation candidates, usually one for adults and one for young people.

In our church baptism usually takes place at the font.  You will be asked to make the promises of baptism (repenting of your sins and turning to Christ) and to declare that you have accepted the Christian faith.  The baptism of adults is followed as soon as possible by confirmation.

 

CONFIRMATION

People who have been baptised may be confirmed provided they are old enough to renew for themselves the promises made for them by their parents and godparents at their baptism.  In our church, it is usual for people to only receive Holy Communion once they have been confirmed.

 

Please contact Rev Stephen Thorp, if you would like further information about either Baptism or Confirmation.

 

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