Baptism

Baptisms usually take place during the main 9.30 Sunday service. This allows the congregation to pray for and be introduced to those (babies, children and adults) who are becoming Christians in baptism and joining the Church. 

Our desire is to allow anybody who seeks baptism here to be welcomed, but in practice this is only possible for those who belong to the parish through living here, being on the electoral roll or through some other connection. Baptisms take place on the second Sunday of the month. 

If you would like to be baptised or, indeed, would like your child to be baptised please call in to the office on a Monday evening between 6.00 and 6.45 when a member of clergy will be able to help you.

 



 

 

Baptism marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues
for the rest of our lives, the first step in response to God’s love.
For all involved, particularly the candidates but also parents,
godparents and sponsors, it is a joyful moment when we rejoice in
what God has done for us in Christ, making serious promises and
declaring the faith. The wider community of the local church
and friends welcome the new Christian, promising support and
prayer for the future. Hearing and doing these things provides an
opportunity to remember our own baptism and reflect on the
progress made on that journey, which is now to be shared with
this new member of the Church.
The service paints many vivid pictures of what happens on the
Christian way. There is the sign of the cross, the badge of faith in
the Christian journey, which reminds us of Christ’s death for us.
Our ‘drowning’ in the water of baptism, where we believe we die to
sin and are raised to new life, unites us to Christ’s dying and rising,
a picture that can be brought home vividly by the way the baptism
is administered.Water is also a sign of new life, as we are born again
by water and the Spirit, as Jesus was at his baptism. And as a sign
of that new life, there may be a lighted candle, a picture of the light
of Christ conquering the darkness of evil. Everyone who is baptized
walks in that light for the rest of their lives.


(from Common Worship, Baptism Service, Pastoral Introduction)

 



Giving birth is a wonderful and creative experience and often parents want to give thanks to God for bringing them through the experience safely and and for the gift of a new child.

We can offer a Service of Thanksgiving (for the gift of a child) as an alternative to baptism and as a way of giving thanks for:

  • parents who see this as a preliminary to baptism;
  • parents who do not wish their children to be baptized immediately;
  • others, who do not ask for baptism, but who recognize that something has happened for which they wish to give thanks to God.

If you are interested in this, please contact a member of the clergy.