Baptism in the Church of England

The Baptism of Children:

When a baby is Baptised, the parents and Godparents commit themselves, and their baby, to a churchgoing lifestyle. They make a decision to take their child with them on that same journey of faith and the Church promises to welcome the child and to pray for the family. A Baptism is, therefore, the beginning of a long process and not a one-off event.

The Baptism of Adults:

Most usually, Baptism and Confirmation would take place at the same time but if you wish to explore Baptism we will be delighted to invite you to join a Faith Exploration Group.

Who can be Baptised in Christ Church?

The whole of Britain is divided into a network of adjoining Parishes so, wherever you live, you have a Parish Church where you may enquire about Baptism. Christ Church is the Parish Church of South Ossett so you must either:

• Live in the Parish of South Ossett.
• Or already be a regular worshipping member of Christ Church.

If you live elsewhere, or worship at another Church, then you will need to approach your local Parish Church or the Church where you usually worship.

If you live in the Parish of South Ossett or are already a regular worshipping member of Christ Church, the Vicar will usually arrange to visit you at home. During that visit the Vicar will take some details and discuss the process of preparation with you. Because Baptism is a lifestyle commitment you will be invited to join a Baptism Preparation Group that will help you to consider the vows you will make to God before you make them. There are usually four Baptism Preparation Groups each year.

A Service of Thanksgiving:

Some parents feel it is more appropriate to celebrate the gift of their child without the lifestyle commitment of Baptism. In a Service of Thanksgiving, parents and families give thanks for the birth (or adoption) of their child and everyone prays for family life. A Thanksgiving Service is not a Baptism. There are no promises to make about the Christian faith or going to Church. The child will be blessed and prayed for, and Adult Supporting Friends will promise to support the parents in bringing up their child.

The Practicalities:

Please contact the Parish Office on 01924 263311. There is usually someone to take your call between 9.00 am-12.00 noon, Monday-Friday. If the Vicar is not available, please leave a phone number with an indication of when you are generally available to answer calls or complete the enquiry form on this page.