Do I need to live in the parish?

To have a child baptised in one of our churches you will need to be a resident in our parish or attending one of our churches.  The reason the Church of England works this way is that the “Baptism” (or “Christening”) service is all about being a member of the “family of the church” and, therefore, it makes sense to use the local church. 

If you live outside the parish, permission must be obtained (in writing) from the Vicar or Rector of the Parish Church where you live.  This guideline does not apply to Blessing services.

What is the difference between a “Baptism” and a “Blessing” service?

In a baptism service, you will make promises in front of the church that you will bring the child up as a Christian, and you also declare you own Christian faith to the congregation.

In the blessing service no such promises or declarations are made and the child is anointed with oil rather than sprinkled with water.  The baptism service is primarily a statement of Christian faith, the Blessing service is primarily a service to say thank you for the child and to ask God’s blessing on them.

Do I need to be baptised to have my child baptised?

As the child’s parents there is no requirement for you to be baptised, however, all the Godparents will need to be baptised and it is preferable for one of them, at least, to be Confirmed.  This is so that they can make the promises for themselves and for the child. 

As you feel that it is a good and proper step to have your child baptised, you may want to explore the possibility of being baptised yourself.  If this is something you would like to consider, please contact Rev. Dave Robbins, who will be only too happy to talk to you about this important step.

 Do we need to come to church?

We ask that you come to church a few times before the actual service in order to get to know people and so that they are familiar with the church and the way we do things, particularly if you would like to go to CHS for your service.  Most people find this extremely helpful and something that makes their day the best it can be!

Will we be welcome at the church?

We aim to provide the best possible welcome for all visitors at both of our churches.  We hope and believe you will find it so good that you will want to keep coming back!

What do I do next?

Please contact Rev. Dave Robbins on 01245 346 329

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