BAPTISM (CHRISTENING) FOR CHILDREN
We’re delighted you are thinking of baptism for your child. Your child is precious to you and precious to God. At baptism you promise, to raise your child to know that God loves them, and to help them to follow Jesus as a member of the Church.
In baptism, you as parents are: thanking God for his gift of life, making a decision to start your child on the journey of faith and asking for the Church’s support. If you wish to explore the possibility of having your child baptised, please contact us for an informal chat. You can call our parish administrator on 07492 693241 or our minister Sheila Bridge on 07754 784251.
Frequently asked questions:
Will there be any preparation required?
Yes, because baptism is as much about belonging as well as believing, all we ask is that you come along to at least three Family Services, these are on the first Sunday of every month. We hope that coming along to these informal, family friendly services will give you a feel for what it would be like to be part of our church family. You are also very likely to observe another baptism before your own event.
What about Godparents?
You can have 1,2,3 or even 4 Godparents - but it is a condition of the service that to be a godparent you must have been baptised yourself. This is because you are promising to help bring the child into the family of faith. If you would like to involve someone close to your child who has not been baptised or is from another religion, they can still take part but only by acting as a sponsor which means promising their support to you and your family. In a service of Thanksgiving there are only sponsors. A service of Thanksgiving is a ceremony which simply allows you to have ceremony in church to give thanks for your child and it does not include godparents, promises or water.
Will I have to say something in the service?
Yes. The parents and god parents are required to make promises and declaration about faith on behalf of the child.
You can download the words for the Baptism part of the service here baptism.docx
And here are the words for a Thanksgiving ceremony thanksgiving_service_words.docx
Is there any charge for a Baptism?
No
BAPTISM FOR ADULTS
Baptism is not just for children but also for Adults. In baptism, we thank God for his gift of life and publicly acknowledge his love. Maybe you are exploring questions about God and want to express this through baptism. If so contact us for more information.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey where those who have been baptised as children make a firm commitment to Christian discipleship. Through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop, the Church also asks God to give those being confirmed power, through the Holy Spirit, to live the life of discipleship.
We’re delighted you are thinking of baptism for your child. Your child is precious to you and precious to God. At baptism you promise, to raise your child to know that God loves them, and to help them to follow Jesus as a member of the Church.
In baptism, you as parents are: thanking God for his gift of life, making a decision to start your child on the journey of faith and asking for the Church’s support. If you wish to explore the possibility of having your child baptised, please contact us for an informal chat. You can call our parish administrator on 07492 693241 or our minister Sheila Bridge on 07754 784251.
Frequently asked questions:
Will there be any preparation required?
Yes, because baptism is as much about belonging as well as believing, all we ask is that you come along to at least three Family Services, these are on the first Sunday of every month. We hope that coming along to these informal, family friendly services will give you a feel for what it would be like to be part of our church family. You are also very likely to observe another baptism before your own event.
What about Godparents?
You can have 1,2,3 or even 4 Godparents - but it is a condition of the service that to be a godparent you must have been baptised yourself. This is because you are promising to help bring the child into the family of faith. If you would like to involve someone close to your child who has not been baptised or is from another religion, they can still take part but only by acting as a sponsor which means promising their support to you and your family. In a service of Thanksgiving there are only sponsors. A service of Thanksgiving is a ceremony which simply allows you to have ceremony in church to give thanks for your child and it does not include godparents, promises or water.
Will I have to say something in the service?
Yes. The parents and god parents are required to make promises and declaration about faith on behalf of the child.
You can download the words for the Baptism part of the service here baptism.docx
And here are the words for a Thanksgiving ceremony thanksgiving_service_words.docx
Is there any charge for a Baptism?
No
BAPTISM FOR ADULTS
Baptism is not just for children but also for Adults. In baptism, we thank God for his gift of life and publicly acknowledge his love. Maybe you are exploring questions about God and want to express this through baptism. If so contact us for more information.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey where those who have been baptised as children make a firm commitment to Christian discipleship. Through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop, the Church also asks God to give those being confirmed power, through the Holy Spirit, to live the life of discipleship.
