Baptism & Thanksgiving

Everyone wants to give their children the best start in life, and bringing children up in a church family means you and your children are part of a supportive community as they grow up and begin to ask the big questions.

The baptism of children is also called ‘christening’ because at baptism the parents and godparents make promises about their own faith in Jesus Christ, and their commitment to bring up their child to know Jesus for themselves. For those who want to thank God for the birth of their child, but don’t feel able to make the baptism promises, churches also offer a service of dedication and thanksgiving.

Different churches will hold baptism or dedication services in different ways. Some will be part of an all-age service, others as part of their adult Sunday worship. It is also sometimes possible for baptisms and dedications to take place outside the regular services. Before a baptism, the church minister or families worker will usually arrange to visit you and your children in your home to find out about you, and to explain what will happen at the service. They will also explain the promises you are going to be making and give you the chance to ask any questions you might have.

Most churches will also have Sunday or midweek groups and events where parents with very young children can meet together. Many also have groups for older children, where learning more about God is fun, safe and relevant.

To find out more about groups for parents and children at your local church, please contact the priest or the parish administrator. They will also be able to arrange a visit to talk about booking a baptism or thanksgiving.