Baptism

Baptism marks the start of a journey of faith, which involves turning away from evil, turning towards Christ and becoming a member of the local and worldwide Christian family. There are various services available: infant baptism (including thanksgiving for the gift of a child), adult baptism and confirmation.

Infant baptism

Everyone is welcome to have their children baptised in their parish church. During the service children are baptised with water and their parents and godparents make promises to support them on their journey of faith. It’s the start of a life-long journey with God for your child and a special day for you, your family and friends.

Read more about infant baptism here.

Thanksgiving for the gift of a child

There is a special, but simple, service of thanksgiving, which is a lovely time when you can be with friends and family, ask for God’s blessing and pray for your baby. It’s different from an infant baptism, so find out more to discover whether this is the right option for you.
Read more about thanksgiving services here.

Adult baptism

If you are mature enough to make your own decisions and you’ve decided you’d like to be baptised, you’ll have a baptism service that is designed for adults.

The adult baptism service is similar to the infant baptism service, except that because you make the decision and the promises yourself, there is no role required for parents or godparents (who make decisions and promises on behalf of a child).
You may decide to have supporting friends or ‘sponsors’ – this can be anyone who wishes to encourage you in your Christian faith. It may be a friend, or someone in your family and you may have more than one person if you wish.

For adults and young people, baptism usually takes place shortly before confirmation and often at the same service.

For more information please contact us.

Confirmation

Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith into which you have been baptised and your intention to live a life of committed discipleship. This affirmation is confirmed through prayer and the laying on of hands by the confirming bishop. The Church also asks God to give you power through the Holy Spirit to enable you to live in the way of Jesus.

Your confirmation will be led by the bishop. It may take place at your own church, at the cathedral or in another church in your diocese. At confirmation you may be asked if you would like a sponsor to stand with you as a symbol of their journeying with you in faith. Usually this is someone who has previously been confirmed. It may be one of the people who have prepared you for confirmation or it may be a good friend, a relative, or a Godparent.

It is normal for Confirmation to be followed straight away by Holy Communion, although in cases where confirmation has not taken place in a candidate’s parish church they may instead take Communion for the first time in that church at the next Sunday service.

For more information please contact us.