Baptisms and Christenings and Confirmation

Baptisms and Christenings and Confirmation

Baptisms and Christenings 

“Interested in Baptism?”

Thank you for your interest about Baptism in this church on behalf of your child or children. Like you we want to encourage them to become a member of the family of the Church.  At Baptism you make a decision to start your child on a journey of faith. The church and the godparents support the family and the child in this decision. A great first step is to come along to some of the Sunday Services  at our church.                                                                                                                                                                                                

When are the baptism services?
Since baptism includes joining the church, we baptise both children and adults in our main Sunday Morning Service at ten thirty am.

What happens at the baptism service?
Baptism is the first step in our journey of faith. So in baptism the child’s parents and godparents or the adult being baptised declare their decision to turn away from wrong doing and turn to Christ. Then with the whole congregation they affirm their faith in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the vicar baptises the person being baptised by pouring water on their head.

Many parents choose to bring their child to church to be baptised. Baptism recognises several important parts of an individual’s life. It is a sign of God’s love for us as part of His creation. Parents bringing their child to be baptised are publicly thanking God for the gift of life. They are also making a decision to help their child start a journey of faith and asking God and the church for support. Baptism does involve the parents and godparents of the child making certain promises and commitments before God. These commitments involve bringing the young person up as a follower of Jesus.

 

The church has a special service which offers thanks for the gift of the child which is suitable for those who don’t, at this stage, wish their child to be baptised.

Baptism is not just for children. Many adults who have not been baptised as children want to make a commitment to God later in their life. The Church of England website contains more details about baptism as an adult.

 

Thanksgiving

The church has a special service which offers thanks for the gift of the child which is suitable for those who don’t, at this stage, wish their child to be baptised.

 

 Read more about Baptism  or contact us to find out more.

Confirmation

Baptism is, we hope, the start of the journey that all Christians are on with God. As a person’s faith and understanding grows and deepens they may reach a point where they are ready to make a further commitment to God. This will take the form of a confirmation service where the individual publically affirms their faith and this faith is confirmed by the laying on of hands from a Bishop.