Your Child’s Baptism at All Saints

Who can be baptised?

To have your child baptised at All Saints, you need to live in the parish or be a regular member of the congregation. Occasionally, people living elsewhere have a strong family link to the Church and, in exceptional circumstances, a baptism here may still be possible, at the vicar’s discretion.

You need also to be clear as to your own Christian faith and committed to regular involvement in church life, bringing your child with you.

When can we have a baptism?

Baptisms take place during the main worship service, mid-morning on a Sunday. Specific baptism dates are scheduled throughout the year. Unfortunately it is not normally possible to provide extra dates because of the impact this has on other arrangements, such as Holy Communion, Sunday Schools, and our united worship with St George’s URC Church. The service is in contemporary language and lasts about 55 minutes.

The first steps

There are two things you should to to make a start:

1. Arrange a meeting with the vicar (click here for contact details). 
2. Also, if you are not already an active church member, you should start coming along to our services as soon as you are able. Click here for details of our service times. And click here for details of our support for families and children.
   

Please note: 

• When you contact the vicar please provide all your names as well as phone, address and email details.
• It is very helpful if the vicar can see both parents together (when appropriate). 
  
• The meeting is usually arranged in your own home, preferably at a time when any children are asleep or being cared for by someone else, to minimise interruptions. You can of course come to the vicarage if you prefer.
  
• Please bear in mind that the vicar’s evenings often get booked up a few weeks in advance, so daytime appointments are preferred whenever possible.

Please make contact at the earliest opportunity, even before the child is born, and certainly before you make any other arrangements. 

Meeting the vicar

When you meet up with the vicar the following areas will be discussed:

1. What does it mean to be a Christian?
2. What does it mean to be a member of All Saints’ Church?
   
3. Should you have a ‘baptism’ or a ‘thanksgiving’ service? A thanksgiving is more appropriate if you do not wish to make an ongoing commitment to the life of the church.
   
4. Who should be the godparents? To be a godparent requires a genuine, personal declaration of Christian faith. It may be that you will need to find another way to acknowledge any supportive friends who are not Christians.
5. Practicalities including dates, times and number of guests. 
   

Please don’t worry if you are unsure about some of these issues; just make sure you have given them some thought. The vicar will support you as much as possible. But it is essential to talk through the meaning of baptism before putting a date in the diary. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q	I would like to have a christening, is that the same as a baptism?
A	Yes. The word ‘baptism’ is used in the Bible and in the service itself, and refers to the act of initiation into the church using water. The word ‘christen’ comes from old English, meaning, ‘to make someone a Christian’. An adult’s baptism is not normally called a ‘christening’. It used to be the case that a child was given their ‘Christian name’ during the baptism service but nowadays that is done by a registrar.
Q	One of the child’s parents has not been baptised, does this matter?
A	No. But that parent should at least be willing to support their child being brought up in the Christian faith, within the Church of England. If for some reason there is disagreement between the parents, you are welcome to discuss your situation with the vicar.
Q	Do the godparents need to be baptised Christians?
A	Yes, because they are taking on a responsibility to bring up the child in the Christian faith, in partnership with the parents.
Q	Do the parents and godparents have to say anything in the service?
A	Yes, they have to declare their commitment to following Jesus Christ, by making a series of declarations during the service.
Q	I was not baptised as a child and would like to be baptised with my child. Is this possible?
A	Yes, we can baptise you both during the same service. The vicar will want to discuss this decision with you as it is a very significant step to take.
Q	At what age should I bring my child to baptism?
A	A person can be baptised at any age. The most important thing is a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. When the person being baptised is old enough to do so, they make this declaration of faith for themselves.
Q	We don’t really go to church very often, but we don’t want our child to miss out. Can we have a baptism?
A	Yes, in the parish where you live. But baptism is not just a one-off occasion, it is a sign of faith and a commitment to a way of life. Regular involvement in church is not always easy, but God calls us to do this and it is a sacrifice well worth making. The most important decision in life is to trust in Jesus Christ, who is our Saviour and brings us back to God our Father. At All Saints we are always happy to answer people’s questions about this.