Baptisms

Baptism is a public commitment to follow Jesus Christ. When a young child is baptised, or christened, the parents and godparents make this commitment on their behalf. Older children and adults make the commitment for themselves.

Whenever it happens, whether as a baby, child or adult, baptism is at the heart of an amazing journey of faith as a follower of Jesus Christ.

In the case of a young child, 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 their church and in other ways.

So, baptism is a commitment to start as you mean to go on.

Your Child's Baptism

We are delighted that you are considering having your child baptised. Your child’s baptism is a very important occasion both for the Church and for your family.

Baptisms within our benefice take place either within the main service or at a special baptism service agreed by the vicar.

We hope that it will be a happy and memorable time for all concerned and, like everything else important in life, your child’s baptism will require planning and preparation.

Your first step is to contact the Priest by email or phone to let us know that you are considering a baptism (see Contact page).

We will explain what our churches offer for children and young people and also let you know the next steps in the process of preparing for the baptism. This will include attending a regular Sunday service and also a preparation meeting with one of our clergy team.

Questions that are often asked

Who can be a godparent?

You should have at least two Godparents: one of each gender.  Traditionally, there are two Godparents of the same gender as the child and one of the opposite gender.  Godparents can be family members or friends. However, it is important that you choose people who will take an interest in your child's spiritual welfare and who will pray for you and your child. They should be baptised themselves and mature enough to act as a Godparent.

We’re not married – can our child still be baptised?

Yes - not a problem. But if you would like to discuss the possibility of getting married, one of our clergy team would be delighted to discuss this with you.

Can older children or adults be baptised?

Yes - again not a problem. If you are considering this, please have a word with a one of our clergy.

We don’t live in the benefice – can we have our baby baptised here?

It’s usual to have your baby baptised in the parish where you live so that your child can be welcomed and grow in your local church family. However, if there are particular reasons why you would like to have the baptism at one of our churches (e.g. family links), it may be possible to arrange with the agreement of your own local minister. Please contact us to discuss further.

What does it cost?

Baptism is a symbol of God’s love for us which is freely given.  We make no charge.

What sites do you recommend to learn more about baptisms?

The Church of England’s dedicated Christenings Site:

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