Baptism or Christening

If you make an enquiry about a baby’s baptism (sometimes called "Christening") you will be met with a friendly welcome.  If your child is a new baby then we enjoy having you come for a Thanksgiving.  How lovely to say ‘thank you’ to God for your precious new baby.  This is a short five minute slot in a Sunday service where we say some prayers, pray for you and ask God to bless your baby. 

Heavenly Father, we praise you for Jack’s birth;

Surround him with your blessing

That he may know your love, be protected from evil,

And know your goodness all his days.

After this we can meet to discuss baptism and its meaning.  It marks the beginning of your journey to help the child grow up as a Christian and into membership of the body of Christ, the church, and so baptisms are always held as part of our main Suday morning service.

At the beginning of the church some 2000 years ago, it was adults and their children putting their faith in Jesus who were baptized together. That is still sometimes the case today. 

The Service of Baptism is designed for the children of practising Christians. Babies (and adults) are baptized at the font and their parents are asked to speak for them.  Parents make promises to walk in the way of Christ with their children and to help them take their place within the life and worship of his church.  Some of this may sound new, so we like to meet parents in a friendly, relaxed environment and discuss all this so they feel prepared. Godparents are important too and should be chosen with care and must be baptized members of a Christian church. 

Jesus loves children and so do we, his church.  We try to have lots at church for children: Sunday School, informal services and Tuesday Tots.  Never please feel afraid or stressed about coming with screaming babies.............many of us have been there!  We do have some crêche toys and some play areas where parents can still hear the service.

We believe that God loves people very much.  So, bringing children up to love and follow Jesus Christ is surely the very best for them.  

With parents and godparents holding a candle and the child’s new first Bible, the service concludes with a lovely warm welcome:

  We welcome you into the fellowship of faith;

We are children of the same heavenly Father;

We welcome you.

(Material is © Common Worship the Archbishop’s Council 2000)

If you make an enquiry either by phone or via the form on this website, you will be asked to come to a Sunday morning service where we can meet you and give you a "Baptism Pack" which explains all the details you need to know.

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