Baptisms

Baptism (also known as Christening) is the first ‘sacrament of initiation’, marking the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives - the first step in response to God’s love. It is a very ancient service and Christ himself was baptised before beginning his ministry of teaching and healing. The font - the special bowl used in baptism - is placed near the entrance of the church to symbolise that this ceremony is the ‘door’ by which a person enters the Christian faith. 

The service itself paints many vivid pictures of what happens on the Christian way:

• The Sign of the Cross: The cross is the ‘badge of faith’ in the Christian journey, reminding us of Christ’s death for us

• The Water: The symbolic act of going down into the water and coming up again recalls Christ’s dying and resurrection, even though this powerful symbol is simplified by the pouring of water on to the head three times. Water is also a signifier of life and creation: in baptism, we are given new life and recreated in Christ’s likeness.

• The Candle: As a sign of new life, a lighted candle is given, a picture of the light of Christ conquering the darkness of evil. Everyone who is baptised walks in that light for the rest of their lives.

For all involved, particularly those being baptised, it is a joyful moment when we rejoice in what God has done for us in Christ, making serious promises and declaring the Faith. When a child is being baptised, the parents make these promises on behalf of their child. The wider community of the church and friends and family welcome the new Christian, promising support and prayer for the future. 

The Baptism of Adults

You are never too old to be baptised, and we joyfully welcome requests for baptism from adults. It is usual, in these cases, to have a number of meetings with the vicar to prepare you for the ceremony and to ensure you are informed about the Christian Faith and the promises you will make. It is traditional for adults to be baptised at Easter, but it can be done at other times of the year.

It is not possible to be re-baptised, so if you were christened as a child, we cannot repeat the ceremony, but there are special services in which you can renew your baptismal vows. You may not be certain whether you have been baptised or not. In every case, you should contact Fr Godfrey to discuss taking this wonderful first step of faith.

The Baptism of Children

Since the very beginning of Christianity, children have been baptised as well as adults. Some people believe that you should be older and make your own decision to be baptised, but this is to misunderstand what we believe happens in baptism. It is God who is doing the action, rather than us, and so the age and understanding of the person being baptised does not matter. Your child is precious to you and precious to God. You want the very best for them, and so does God. You want them to make right choices in life, for themselves and for others. We believe that baptism brings a child into the Body of Christ, renews and redeems them, and spiritually strengthens them for the journey of life.

It’s a commitment to start as you mean to go on. Over the years to come, it’s a journey you’ll share together with your child by:

• Being there for your child to talk to about the bigger questions of life – questions about hope, faith and love

• Praying for your child through the ups and downs of their faith journey

• Showing them practically how to make good choices in life

• Helping them to learn more about their Christian faith, through their church and in other ways.

You don't have to have been baptised yourself to have your child christened, and you don't have to have been a regular churchgoer. The godparents you pick for your child, however, do need to have been baptised themselves.

Thanksgiving for a child

Instead of baptism, some parents choose a different service called a ‘Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child’. You might also choose this service when your baby is just born and perhaps baptise them later, especially after a difficult pregnancy, or if you have adopted a child into your family and you simply want to celebrate this with special words said by a vicar in church. Whatever the reason, Fr Godfrey will be delighted to talk to you about this service.