We invite parents who are considering having thier child baptised to join us for a meeting when we can explain the difference between a Baptism and a Thanksgiving service. and what it means to be a Christian.

Baptisms usually take place on the fourth Sunday of the month at the 9.30am morning Service. This varies around Christmas, Easter and August.

The Alpha Course is an excellent way to explore The Christian Faith and to live as a Christian in today's world. We recommend Alpha as a good course for adults thinking of baptism or confirmation. Parents bring their children for baptism are helped to understand what it means to bring up their children as Christians.
Link to The Alpha Course
 

Based on an article from the Church of England Website

Your child's baptism in the Church of England

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 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 to pray for you and your child.

The declarations

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 in the Baptism service?

Your child's baptism will take place during the main Sunday service. 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 vicar will ask the parents and godparents to make declarations on behalf of the child.

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

When did baptism start?

Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. This was a turning point in his life (you can read the story in the Bible: at the beginning of Mark's Gospel in the New Testament). Jesus told his followers to baptize others as a sign that they had turned away from their old life, and begun a new life as Christ's disciples, members of his Body, having been assured of God's forgiveness.

Baptisms often took place in a river: new Christians were dipped under the water, marking their death to an old way of life, and lifted up again as a sign of new birth.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What's the difference between a baptism and a christening?
A: None, they are just different words for the same thing.

Q: What is the right age for baptism?
A: Baptism can happen at any age. What matters is that those concerned believe it is right to ask for baptism. Teenagers and adults may also be baptized. You can only be Baptised once, but there are ways of renewing your commitment publicly as an adult - just ask if you need more details!
StMM/SWCC often invite people on the Alpha Course to prepare for baptism.

Q: I'm not a regular churchgoer. Can I still have my child baptised?
A: Yes. The Church believes that God's love is available to all, regardless of their background. Your parish minister can talk you through the options: You may prefer to have a Thanksgiving service first and to then consider Baptism once you have had time to talk through its meaning/implications for you.
You may wish to find out more about the Christian faith and what joining the Church involves before you make a decision about Baptism.

Q: What does it cost?
A: The Baptism service is free.

Q: What is a godparent?
A: Godparents make the same promises on behalf of the child being baptized 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.

Q: Who should I choose to be a godparent?
A: 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 baptized themselves.

Q: What happens after the baptism?
A: Baptism marks a new start for your child, as a member of the worldwide Christian community. In turn, the Church welcomes you and your child and promises to support you in bringing the child up in the faith. Both of our congregations have services where children are welcome and special groups and activities for them.