Baptism is a wonderful milestone in a person’s life and journey with God. At Baptism a decision is made to start on a journey of faith, and we welcome all who wish to be baptised or to have their children baptised in their parish church.
Baptism is all about joining God’s family, and trusting him with our lives and our future. We believe that it’s important that other members of the church family are there to welcome and support the newly-baptised on their journey of faith, be they an adult or a child, which is why baptisms normally take place within our Sunday worship.
During the service, some special symbols are used to underline what is happening for us as parents, godparents, family and friends:
- Water – the stuff of life – washes us clean and nourishes us;
- Oil with its healing properties makes us whole; and
- Light emphasises that we are all children of light and on the side of good.
Sometimes, for some families, a Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child is more appropriate as they want to thank God for a child but aren’t able to make the promises which are required in a service of baptism.
There is no fee for a baptism. God’s gift of grace and new life is given freely to us all.