Baptism and Thanksgiving Services
Baptism (or christening) is the Church’s initiation ritual: it marks the beginning of the Christian life.
There are various metaphors in the Bible to describe baptism. One has to do with washing: baptism cleanses us from our sins and sinfulness. Another has to do with death: baptism is a kind of drowning. Another has to do with birth: baptism is like being born again. All these metaphors speak of the ending of one way of living and the beginning of another.
All are welcome to baptism. We welcome all babies, children and families for baptisms, whatever shape that family takes. You do not have to be married or have been a regular churchgoer: as a parent, you do not even have to have been baptized yourself. Everyone is welcome. You can be baptised at any age. There is no upper age limit, but there will come a time when your child will be able to make the promises for themselves, and if you are baptised as an adult, the service will be slightly different.
Baptisms in this Benefice take place on Sunday morning, during the parish Eucharist. This is because in baptism, each person gains a new family, whose local manifestation is the Christian community of worshippers.
Thanksgivings – a different journey
Not everyone feels able to make baptismal vows on behalf of their children.
A special church service, different from a baptism, can be used as a way to say thank you to God for your child.
You might choose this service when your baby is just born, or if you have adopted a child into your family and you simply want to celebrate this with a special service in church.
To find out more about any of these services, contact us here