Baptism in the Christian Church
If you are thinking of being baptised, or thinking of having a child baptised, hopefully this page can answer some of your questions. Here we are attempting to explain what baptism is and how to go about arranging it.
On this page is information about:
- What is baptism ?
- Baptism today
- Godparents
- What happens at a baptism?
- Baptism in emergency
- Who can be baptised ?
- Preparation for baptism
- Service of Thanksgiving
- When to be baptised
- How can I arrange a baptism ?
What is baptism ?
Each year, more than a quarter of all babies born in England are brought to their parish churches to be baptised (or, in modern usage, christened). Many adults seek baptism, too. Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan and told his friends to baptise others. Thus, baptism has always been a sign of becoming a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ.
At first, baptism was normally for adults. It came to take place on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Day. People were prepared for baptism by being taught the basics of Christian belief. Reminded of the Good Friday story of Crucifixion, they repented of their sins and were assured that God forgave them. In baptism, they were received into the Church with all the joy of the Resurrection.
Baptisms often took place in a river. The 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.
The custom of baptising babies grew up as Christian parents wanted their children to belong to Christ and be part of the Church. This was particularly important when Christians were being persecuted and dying for their faith.
Today, the Church baptises both children and adults. There is no particular age at which baptism is right. What matters is that those concerned believe that it is right to ask for baptism.
There will be many reasons why people seek baptism for themselves or for their children. One mum called on a priest and asked how soon he "could do their five children". Asked what the hurry was, she replied, "My mother-in-law has baked a nice cake!" Others believe that, unless their baby is baptised, the child will go to hell. The Church believes that God loves each and every one of us, whether baptised or not.
Baptism today
Baptisms take place at the font in the local church. The font, often near the main door of the church to symbolise baptism as the way in to membership of the Church, is usually a basin on a pedestal. As none of the churches on the Parish of Holy Trinity are mediaeval buildings they do not have fixed fonts near the door but portable ones.
Baptisms often took place on a Sunday afternoon with just the priest, parents, family and friends present. Now, the Church is returning to an earlier tradition, where baptism is part of one of the main Sunday services, so that the child or adult can be seen to be joining the family of the Church and be welcomed into membership.
Godparents
Babies cannot express their own wishes about being baptised, nor can they make the promises to follow Christ that are required at baptism. Each child has the promises made on his or her behalf by parents and godparents (sometimes called sponsors). Adults being baptised can make the promises for themselves and, so, do not need godparents.
Godparents are friends chosen by the parents to help bring up children in the Christian faith until they can make the promises for themselves at the service of Confirmation.
The Church normally requires at least three godparents: two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex; parents can also be godparents. Godparents should be baptised and confirmed members of the Church.
Godparents have been chosen in the past for their wealth or their ability to look after the child in the event of the parents' death. Today, the Church is re-emphasising the spiritual needs of the child and asking parents to choose godparents who can make the required promises with integrity.
Parents and godparents are reminded of their duties in these words: "The children whom you have brought for baptism depend chiefly on you for the help and encouragement they need. Are you willing to give it to them by your prayers, by your example and by your teaching?"
What happens at a baptism?
The central act of the service is always the same. Those being baptised, together with their sponsors (parents and godparents in the case of babies) gather round the font. The priest or other authorised minister asks them if they turn to Christ, repent of their sins and renounce evil. Then they declare their faith in God the Father who made the world, in God the Son who redeemed mankind and in God the Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God.
In the case of babies, the parents and Godparents make the promises on behalf of the child.
Holding the child or standing with the adult candidate, the priest pours water over its forehead. Using its Christian names, the priest declares: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Pouring the water (a reminder of those original baptisms in a river) gives the sacrament* its name of baptism, from the Greek word for dipping or plunging in water. It symbolises Christ washing new Christians free from sin and uniting them with his death and resurrection.
The priest makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead to show that they should 'not be afraid to confess the faith of Christ crucified'. Sometimes, a lighted candle is presented to the family to remind them that 'Christ is the light of the world' and that the newly baptised, too, should shine as a light in the world to the glory of God. Sometimes, the specially-blessed oils of Chrism are used to anoint the candidate.
Declaring that the person has been received into the Church, the priest and congregation then welcome it into membership.
Baptism in emergency
A child is sometimes baptised in an emergency, usually when there seems to be some danger to its life. In these circumstances, anyone (not necessarily a committed Christian) can perform the baptism by pouring a little water on the child and, calling it by its Christian name, saying: 'I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' If the child recovers, the rest of the service - welcoming it as a member of the Church - takes place in a church, as soon as possible.
Who can be baptised ?
To be baptised in one of the three churches of the parish the person, child or adult, must live within the geographical boundary of the parish, or have their name on the electoral roll (or be a baby of such a person).
In certain circumstances, (e.g. a previous link with one of the churches in our LEP) a person who does not fulfil either of these conditions, may be baptised within the parish, if the minister of the parish in which they reside is agreeable.
Preparation for baptism
Like most churches now, we provide careful preparation before a baptism. So, before making any plans about times or dates or the choice of godparents for a baptism, you must speak to the representatives of the churches who arrange baptisms.
Once you have made contact with the church you will be visited in your home and the promises and purpose of baptism will be discussed in detail. You will also be invited to attend several church services before making any decisions about the commitments involved in baptism.
Service of Thanksgiving
Parents who feel it is not appropriate for them to make the full baptismal promises on behalf of their child can take advantage of another possibility. The Church offers a service of Thanksgiving for the Birth of a Child and a similar service for use after an adoption. These services leave open the option of baptism at a later date.
When to be baptised
There is no "right" age at which to be baptised. Child or adult, God loves each one of us and welcomes us into the Church at any age. If you decide to be baptised as a teenager or adult, your preparation will probably lead you to both baptism and confirmation.
The service of baptism will take place during a regular Sunday morning service.
How can I arrange a baptism ?
To discuss the possibility of arranging a baptism you should contact either the Team Rector or Team Vicar (see Contact Page). Alternatively, each church has a person who deals with baptisms and they can be contacted via the church and are often available at the Church Service on Sunday morning. They are: St. Alban's - Kath Winnett or Tracey Meads, St. David's - Debbie Oliver, and St. William's - Val Richford.
When you have contacted one of these, the procedure will then be explained. The first step is to attend a morning service at the church where the baptism is to take place.
*A Sacrament is the visible expression of a spiritual reality, an outward action which symbolises the working of God's grace. The other principal sacrament is Holy Communion.
Some of this material is taken from one of a range of leaflets available explaining the working and beliefs of the Church of England, edited by Steve Jenkins, published by the Communications Unit General Synod of the Church of England Church House, Gt Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ.