We are so please that you have asked about Baptism, we hope that you will find this guide helpful and if you have any questions do contact our curate. We would also like to invite you to join us for our regular times of worship.
During the christening your child will be baptized. It's the first step of an amazing journey with God, parents, godparents, friends, family and the church. You don't have to have been christened yourself, and you don't have to have been a regular churchgoer.
What is a christening?
During a christening your child will be baptized with water. It’s the start of an amazing journey of faith for your child and a special day for all your friends and family.
Exploring more about what a christening means
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.
A christening is just the beginning of this and so much more.
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 those good choices in life.
Helping them to learn more about their Christian faith, through being part of the church family and in other ways.
So it’s a commitment to start as you mean to go on.
One day the children baptised here today will make their own decisions about the faith into which they have been baptised.
Praying is a very simple but powerful thing you can do with or for a child.
It doesn’t matter if you’re not used to praying. There are no rules about what words you should say, how long your prayers should be, where, or how often you pray.
Prayer is quite simply a conversation with God. Having him to trust and help us in any moment of life is both comforting and amazing.
By encouraging your child in their faith, as they grow and develop and by encouraging them to come to confirmation, you can help give them the very best start in life that they could possibly have:-
A living faith in the God who loves them and gave them life.
Here are some of the promises you and the godparents are asked to make:
Parents and godparents, the Church receives N with joy. Today we are trusting God for his growth in faith. Will you pray for him/her, draw him/her by your example into the community of faith and walk with them in the way of Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
In baptism N begins his journey in faith. You speak for him/her today. Will you care for them and help him/her to take his/her place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God, we will.
Choosing godparents
Godparents are really important. Choosing them is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Whether you are still thinking or have already asked some special friends, discover more about what it means to be or have godparents. Whether you have questions about gifts or want to explore the promises, there are answers to your questions here.
Choosing the right people as godparents for your child is a big decision. Here are some key things which might help you decide:
Because of the very special role godparents have in supporting your child’s faith journey, they should be baptized themselves. Ideally, they should be confirmed too.
If the people who you'd like to be godparents aren't baptized, they can still be involved in the christening service and in your child's life as they grow up.
Godparents will be people who’ll be in touch with your family for many years to come. They may be relatives or friends of the family.
They’ll be people who you know you can trust and who’ll be there for your child to talk about the bigger questions in life; questions about faith, hope and love.
They should feel ready to make some big promises about faith for your child in church.
Every child should have at least three godparents, two of the same sex and at least one of the opposite sex to your child. Although there is no official maximum number of godparents, three or four is usual. If you’d like more than that, please talk to Revd Martin about the practicalities.
Parents may be godparents for their own children, providing they have at least one other godparent.
If you’re thinking about asking someone who is under 18 to be a godparent, talk to Revd Martin first. There’s no minimum age for godparents, but they must be mature enough to understand the responsibilities they’re taking on.
Preparing for the big day
Getting ready for your child’s christening is exciting. But there’s also a lot to think about and do. Whether you have done this before or not, read on for some helpful ideas and tips.
It can seem that there is a lot to organize for a christening. But remember the important thing is that you and your family are there on the day to see your child baptized at their christening.
Have a look at what will happen in the service and the words that you will be saying. The step by step guide to the service may help.
https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/christenings/christening-service-step-step#what-happens-at-a-christening?
It’s a great idea to come along to church before the day so you can meet some of the people. Some of them might be thinking about having a christening too, or have already had their child christened.
Enjoy the party – a key part of the day is being with family and friends.
Think about what you and your child are going to wear. Many parents like their child to have a traditional christening gown, but it’s not compulsory and there may be a special outfit that they’d be more comfortable in – that’s fine. Like any celebration event, many families like to dress up for the occasion too. There are no hard and fast rules – choose what you’ll be happy and comfortable wearing on the day.
Get in touch with your godparents and tell them what will be happening.
Don’t forget photos – your child will be able to look back on them when they’re older and talk to you about what their christening means.
Why not take a few moments to think about your child and your family. Ask God to be close to all of you as you start this amazing journey of faith.
And if you are not Baptised yourself then talk to our curate to explore this.
If you are interested in Baptism for you or your child, contact our curate (contact details on Who's Who page).