Baptisms at St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall

You are loved by God. You always have been. And that is something worth celebrating!

We are delighted that you are considering baptism at St Peter ad Vincula. Whether you are thinking about baptism for your baby, your child, or yourself, we would love to welcome you.

Baptism is a wonderful occasion, full of joy, hope and new beginnings. It is a celebration of God's extraordinary love for each and every one of us.

What is baptism?

We believe that every person is already known, cherished and loved by God, long before they ever set foot inside a church.

Baptism doesn't make God love us more, or suddenly turn us into someone worthy of that love. God's love is already there, freely and generously given.

Instead, baptism is a beautiful way of recognising and celebrating that love. It marks the beginning of a journey of faith, as we discover more about who God is, what it means to follow Jesus, and how we might live lives shaped by love, kindness, forgiveness and hope.

For babies and young children, parents and godparents make promises to help them grow in faith and discover God's love for themselves. For older children and adults, baptism is an opportunity to express their own desire to explore and follow the Christian faith.

Nobody needs to have all the answers. Faith is a journey of discovery, and we are all learning as we go!

Why be baptised at St Peter's?

Because faith was never meant to be a journey we take alone.

Our church is a community of ordinary, imperfect people, learning together what it means to love God and our neighbours. We share life's celebrations and challenges, support one another, ask questions, and try to make a positive difference in the world around us.

When someone is baptised, the whole church community celebrates and promises to welcome, encourage and support them on their journey.

We warmly welcome enquiries from families living within our benefice, which includes Coggeshall, Markshall, Cressing, Stisted, Bradwell-juxta-Coggeshall and Pattiswick, as well as those who have an existing connection with our churches.

If you're unsure whether you have a qualifying connection, please do get in touch. We would be delighted to have a conversation with you.

And please don't worry if you haven't been to church for years, or even if you've never been before. You don't have to become a regular churchgoer before you can come and talk to us about baptism.

When do baptisms take place?

Baptisms normally take place during one of our church services, because welcoming someone through baptism is something the whole church family shares in.

Our services are warm, welcoming and inclusive, and children are very much part of our church life. We don't expect anyone to sit perfectly still, know all the words or understand everything that's going on!

Sometimes more than one family may be celebrating a baptism together, which makes it an especially joyful occasion.

We will be happy to talk through the arrangements with you and help make the occasion meaningful and memorable.

We'd love to hear from you

Whether you are ready to arrange a baptism or are simply curious and would like to find out more, please get in touch.

There is no expectation that you will have everything worked out before you contact us. Questions, doubts and curiosity are all welcome here.

Because baptism isn't about being perfect or having all the answers. It's about celebrating a love that was there from the very beginning, and discovering where that love might lead us.

For further information or to enquire about baptism, please contact:

Telephone: 01376 563861

Email: [email protected]