Thank you for enquiring about baptism
We want to help you to think about and then arrange this significant event.  On this page are some things to think about, when you have had a look through get in contact with us to start making arrangements.  We expect everyone coming to Baptism to attend Church before we start to make any arrangements, the date for any Baptism can only be confirmed after the preparation course has started, so it may not be possible for us to arrange a Baptism on a particular Sunday for you.

Why two sorts of Service?
In Bible times, only active Christians were baptised.  In the past (roughly from 1600 – 1980) the Church of England assumed everybody was an active Christian and so most children were baptised, since they were joining their parents in Church.  Obviously, that is no longer the case and so a choice of services is provided.
People still refer to Baptism as Christening, which literally means bringing to Christ, but this is really an old English expression about naming.  Nowadays people are legally named on their birth certificate and the Church is not involved in this process.

Baptism Service

• A very significant event
• Is not an insurance policy, Baptism marks the start of a life of discipleship in Jesus Christ
• Thanksgiving for the new life of a child
• Praying for God’s blessing upon her or him
• When the parents say “I want my child to be brought up as a follower of Jesus Christ”
• When parents and Godparents make Christian commitment on behalf of the child
• Assumes that the parents and Godparents will lead the child into the life of the Church
• Must take place during a normal Sunday Service

Thanksgiving service

• A very significant event
• Thanksgiving for the new life of a child
• Praying for God’s blessing upon her or him
• No expectations and commitments placed on anyone
• A service that celebrates the hopes held by parents for the child
• Appropriate when the parents and or Godparents feel unable to make the promises of the Baptism Service
• Can be at a time arranged with the local Church

For more information visit: http://www.baptism.org.uk/what_is_baptism.htm