Baptism

Baptism, or Christening (which means Christian-making) is a happy event in the life of a child or adult, and can be the beginning of a life-long journey with God, and association with God’s Church.  In our three churches we will welcome you and and your family if one or more of you wish to be baptised, and we will do all we can to make the day special and support you in your choice of baptism.

We recognise that, after discussion and thought, you may decide that baptism isn’t for you and/or your child.  Indeed some families decide that they wish to leave the choice of being baptised until a child can decide for themselves.  However we also offer a service of thanksgiving for the birth of a child.  Please do discuss that with us if you think that is what you want.

Baptism is a one-time blessing for people of any age, and represents the forgiveness of sins based on Jesus Christ’s once-for-all forgiveness of our sins in his death on the cross.  We are as happy to baptise adults as we are children.

When you have decided that you wish to have a baptism or thanksgiving service, please do come to one of our services – check us out and meet our vicar, Ashley – deciding whether St Giles’, St Mary’s, or St Bartholomew’s is the right church for you.  Then please contact our Parish Administrator, Lynne, on 07721 767963, or  lynnewwh@outlook.com

Lynne will send you a baptism application form and discuss your requested date with Ashley.  Baptisms can take place within our normal services, which allows our church family to show their support for you, or in a separate service with just your family and friends present.  Please do discuss this with Ashley.

You will need to think about whom you wish to be godparents of children who come for baptism.  Legally, a godparent must be baptised themselves.  If a chosen godparent is not already baptised, they can be baptised in the same service, before your child is baptised.  If you wish to have someone of a different faith (not a Christian), they can be a ‘sponsor’ of your child.

In the baptism service we use symbols:

• Water – a symbol of life and death, it symbolises new life in Christ and death to evil and sin.
• A Candle – is a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world, and our lives.
• Oil – is an ancient symbol of God’s blessing.  The vicar anoints the adult or child with sacred oil as a new member of God’s Church.

Ashley will be very happy to explain everything to you when you speak with her.

There is NO charge for baptism – it is a gift freely given by God.