Baptism  

We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to have your child baptised, or to be baptised yourself.

Baptism, also known as "christening",  is a wonderful celebration, thanking God for the gift of life and publicly acknowledging God’s love. It is the means by which babies, children and adults have been welcomed into the family of the church for 2000 years.

Baptism is one of the most popular services we offer. If you would like to discuss baptism, give our administrator a ring on 01522 931076, or drop by at Ducklings on a Tuesday morning in church if it is about a child 0-4. For more information on baptism at All Saints, look at our Planning a Baptism page.

Baptism is free, very moving, and frankly the most valuable gift you can offer to your child. We do baptisms quite often at 2.00pm on a Sunday, sometimes at the 11.15 Late Breakfast service, and occasionally, if the family are regular church-goers, at the 9.30 Parish Eucharist.

In Baptism, you are claimed for Christ and made his child, part of his family, the church. Baptism is a ‘sacrament’: a visible sign of God’s love and action, and the actual way in which we are transformed into members of the christian church, washed in water just as Jesus himself was washed in the Jordan, given a life-membership, and made inheritors of all that Jesus Christ did for us.

We gladly baptise babies who are too young to answer for themselves, praying they will re-affirm their commitment as adults in the service of confirmation, and subject to having three or four active christians (the godparents) who will make the promises for the child and then do all they can by prayer, example and teaching, to make the christian faith a lively reality as the child grows.

Baptism is not about naming, and it is certainly much more than an excuse for a nice party (though we hope you may do that as well). 

Find out more

Take a look at the Church of England's Baptism website by clicking here. It is full of fascinating information.
Nobble one of the ministry team after a service, or ring for a chat or an appointment if you wish to discuss whether baptism is the right step for your child or for you.

We also offer a service of Thanksgiving for the Birth of a Child. Find out more by clicking here. Some people may not feel they can make the commitment that is part of baptism. Some Christians strongly believe that baptism should not be undertaken until you are old enough to know your own mind and come to a faith in Jesus Christ. This is a way of celebrating the child, and surrounding her/him in the love and prayers of the church.