Sacrament
The Church believes that Baptism is a sacrament, an action of Jesus Christ in human lives. What we believe happens through Baptism:
- Jesus welcomes us into his Church.
- He makes us sons and daughters of God.
Promises
Through Baptism, parents and godparents are asked:
- Being there for your the baptised to talk to about the bigger questions of life – questions about hope, faith and love.
- Praying for them 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.
The Ceremony
Baptism will normally take place on a Sunday as part of our regular worship. This is because baptism isn't solely a sign of Christ's presence in a person's life but a welcome into a community that will always pray, support and nurture all people. This is known as the church and it is a time for the Sunday congregation to support and welcome all those being baptised.
If there is a reason for baptism to occur outside of Sunday worship, such as godparent or family availability, we will happily discuss that with you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can be baptised?
Short answer, anyone. Young or old, anyone is welcome to be baptised into the Christian faith. We will happily discuss any questions about baptism
When should I have my child baptised?
Anytime, it's never too early or late to have a child baptised! Some children are baptised soon after birth, others when they are old enough to make their own declaration of faith at baptism. Please contact us to discuss this further.
Baptism Fees?
In the Church in England, there is no fee for the Baptism. Donations though are gratefully received as they help to maintain the church and fund our work in the community to keep this place of worship open to all.
Can I have my child baptised in the parish if I don't live here?
Potentially, yes and please contact us to discuss this.
How many Godparents should we have?
The law of the Church of England requires everyone being baptised to have a minimum of three godparents. Two must be the same gender as the person being baptised and all godparents need to be baptised in any Christian denomination. If there's someone you'd like to be a godparent that isn't baptised, that's no problem, if they wish they can be baptised before the person they will be godparent to.
If there's someone you'd like to be part of the baptised person, but they can't make the promises of the godparents for various reasons, such as being part of another faith, don't worry! There is the option to have Sponsors who promise to support and nurture the person through life but don't make the commitment to raising them in the Christian faith. However, you will still need godparents as Sponsors don't replace them.