Congratulations on your decision to seek baptism

Here you will find information relating to baptism including the following:

• What is baptism?
• Making decisions and promises
• What happens during the service?
• The role of godparents
• Thanksgiving
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Church Fees

If you have any queries that you would like to discuss further, there is an office hour on the first Thursday of the month 7:30 - 8:30pm in the vestry to arrange baptisms. Alternatively, you can call the minister on 513672.

What is Baptism?

In Baptism, you as parents are: thanking God for his gift of life, deciding to start your child on the journey of faith and asking for the Church's support.

For your child, baptism marks the start of a journey of faith, which involves turning away from the darkness of self-centredness, turning towards Christ and becoming a member of the local and worldwide Christian family.

Baptism is a 'sacrament'; a visible sign of God's love. In baptism, we are thanking God for his gift of life and publicly acknowledging his love. We are acknowledging that we all need to turn away from the darkness of evil and to make a new start with God.

Making Decisions and Promises

When you bring your child for Baptism, you will be asked to declare publicly on behalf of your child that you believe in God and that you will bring your child up to follow Jesus.

You will be asked to answer on your child's behalf, that you have decided to turn away from everything which is evil or sinful and to turn instead towards Christ.

The declarations made by you and the child's godparents will be made in front of the church congregation. the Christian community will promise to support you and pray for you and your child.

During the service, you will be asked to make the following declarations:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God? Parents and godparents: I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil? Parents and godparents: I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour? Parents and godparents: I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour? Parents and godparents: I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord? Parents and godparents: I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life? Parents and godparents: I come to Christ.

What Happens During the Service?

Your child's baptism will normally take place during the main Sunday service (usually in the morning). This is so that your child can be seen to be joining the family of the Church and be welcomed into membership. In turn the Church will promise to support and pray for you and your child.

The priest will make sure you know where to sit and when you need to move. Some parts of the service will be for the whole congregation to join, some will be for you and the godparents.

For the baptism itself, parents and godparents will be asked by the priest to gather either at the front of the church or around the font. (The font is a large basin on a pedestal, containing the water for baptism.)

The priest will ask the parents and godparents to make declarations on behalf of the child.

The Role of Godparents

Godparents make the same promises on behalf of the child being baptised as parents. Godparents promise to pray and support the child and to help the parents to bring up the child in the Christian faith. It is an important and responsible role.

You should have at least three godparents: two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex. 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.

Thanksgiving Service

You may wish to ask your parish priest about having a service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child. In this service, you thank God for the gift of your child ad the child is blessed. You do not make the same promises as in the baptism service.

If you choose to have a Thanksgiving, you may also have a baptism service for your child at a later date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Church of England has a brochure available for download here which has a list of frequently asked questions with answers.

Church Fees

The baptism service is free.

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