Baptism
Baptism is an outward sign of an inner spiritual reality. It marks the beginning of somebody’s journey of faith as a Christian and it is a welcome into the church family. The Church of England baptises both adults and children into the Christian faith.
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is also known as christening. It is offered on the understanding that parents will raise their child as a Christian, with the support of godparents and the local church. We hope and pray that as the child grows up, they will choose to make the Christian faith their own and choose to be confirmed in their faith when they are older. Click on this link for more information about infant baptism in the Church of England.
How do I arrange the baptism?
If you would like your child to be baptised at Thanington Parish Church, there are three steps:
1. Come to one of our Sunday services and speak to the person leading the service. There is a service every Sunday at 10am, lasting about an hour. Messy Church is at 4pm on the third Sunday of the month.
2. Baptism preparation – this is a time to talk about the Christian faith, what baptism/christening is all about and the promises which parents and godparents will be asked to make. It is also an opportunity to talk about the practicalities of the baptism service.
3. After the baptism preparation, if you wish to go ahead with the baptism we will book a date. This will usually be on the 1st Sunday or 5th Sunday of the month. If you don’t feel ready to go ahead with a baptism, we can also offer a service of thanksgiving for a new child.
Who can bring their child for baptism at Thanington Parish Church?
You may bring a child for baptism here if you meet one or more of the following:
- currently live in the parish of St Nicholas and St Faith, Thanington;
- on the Electoral Roll of the parish;
- regularly attend worship in the parish;
- have a previous connection to this parish church because you (or your parents) were married in the church or participated regularly in the life of the church.
If you are unsure which Church of England parish you are living in, please visit www.achurchnearyou.com , type in your address to the search box and it will show you a map with your local Church of England Parish marked on it.
Adult baptism
Adults and children who are old enough to make their own decisions about faith may be baptised into the Christian faith either by sprinkling or by full immersion. Here are the three steps:
1. Meet with the vicar to talk about your desire to be baptised and what has lead you to this decision.
2. Complete a baptism preparation course when you can learn more about key Christian beliefs and practices. This will help you to better understand what it means to be baptised into the Christian faith.
3. Meet with the vicar again to discuss the baptism, ask any questions and set a date for the baptism service.