Baptism & Christening
Baptism & Christening of Children
Every child is a unique and amazing gift from God. Like you we want to celebrate this gift and pray that God’s love and grace will be at work both in your child’s life and yours.
Baptism/Christening of children brings them to Christ and is a solemn marking, by the church, of God’s promise to them and of your promise to bring them up as Christians, followers of Jesus. What better way to begin the amazing journey of bringing up your Child by putting God at the centre of your hope for your child and your family ‘s life.
In the Church of England there are two options:
Thanksgiving
For parents who do not wish to make the Baptism promises but still want to come to Church to thank God for the gift of their child, a Service of Thanksgiving is available. The steps to follow are the same as for Baptism. Thanksgiving services will be discussed as part of the preparation session.
Baptism of Adults
Baptism is for everyone. Jesus himself was over 30 when he was baptised. There is no difference between adult and children’s baptism except your size and the fact that you make the baptismal declarations and promises for yourself. As an adult you receive in baptism forgiveness and rebirth, marking the start of the newest and most important stage of your life journey with God. Read more here
Preparation
The Church sees Baptism as a very important day in someone’s life, whatever age they are. Key aspects of someone’s Baptism include making a commitment (by Parents/Godparents/yourself) to follow Jesus and join the Church family.
For adults we usually arrange a number of sessions – either one to one or in a group – for you to explore the journey that has brought you to this point and what baptism means as a spiritual reality of forgiveness and rebirth.
For the baptism of children, we find it helpful for people to come to at least a couple of services to see what their local Church is like, then meet to discuss what life, faith and church mean for you and what happens in Baptism.
Steps to arrange a baptism
Step 1:
Come to one of our Sunday services at either Holy Trinity or Mosaic and speak to one of the ministers or welcomers, who will take some brief details. See top of this page for service details or use this link: service details. If you cannot get to a service, please contact Linda in the parish office, admin@bracknell-parish.org or call 01344 867383
Step 2:
We arrange a first meeting or visit with you. Most of the arrangements can be done by e-mail or text.
Step 3:
We meet together with you and (where possible) godparents.
Please note:
- You need to complete a booking form which will be shared by the Vicar.
- Parents/Godparents will be invited to a preparation meeting and it is important that as many of them attend as possible (we appreciate not always easy if they live some distance away).
- There will normally be a couple of preparation sessions. The first is usually just the parents and perhaps the child, it is often a home visit.
We will confirm a date with you as soon as possible so you can make all the other arrangements. This must be arranged through the Vicar.
There are some links below to helpful pages on the Church of England Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do baptisms take place?
Baptisms are held either in our regular Sunday morning worship or in a separate ceremony later on Sunday.
Q: Is there a fee for a baptism?
Baptism is a free gift from God, there is no fee or charge. You will receive certificates for those being baptised and for Godparents and a special candle to take home which will be lit as an important part of the service. If you wish to have an official baptism certificate then there is a small fee charged. More information can be obtained from the minister when you meet.
However we gratefully accept donations which you and/or your guests might want to make towards the, quite substantial, costs of running the church. You can make a donation during the service or at any other time.
Q: We are not married. Can our child be baptised?
Yes
Q: I am single or divorced. Can my child be baptised?
Yes
Q: How many godparents should I ask?
Traditionally it is three (to represent Father, Son and Holy Spirit). However you can have more or fewer than this.
Q: Do Godparents need to have been baptised themselves?
Yes. God parents are people who self-identify as Christians. You must have at least one baptised person to act as God-parent we will discuss Godparents as part of the preparation..
Q: Do parents need to be baptised and attend church?
No. Your child has the right to be baptised. BUT, in baptism parents and god-parents promise to bring a child up in the Christian faith. This is a serious promise, made before God, and means your child needs to learn about Jesus and the Christian faith. That can only happen with your help and support. Perhaps you might think seriously about attending church and being baptised yourself? Find out more here
Q: Do I have to live near the church or in the parish in order for my baptism to take place?
You have the right to have your child baptised in your Church of England parish church. Please check whether this is Holy Trinity by using this Church near you web site.
If you live in a different parish but have a connection to Holy Trinity or a particular reason to want your child baptised here, it is possible to make that happen. Please contact us to find out more.
For initial enquiries please do one of the following:
- Visit one of our services and chat with us.
- Contact the parish office. Email Linda Edwards, Parish Office Administrator at admin@bracknell-parish.org or call 01344 867383
We look forward to hearing from you.