Baptisms at Christ Church
Celebrate the gift of new life with a service of thanksgiving or baptism.
A Baptism at Christ Church
A Baptism at Christ Church
We are delighted that you are thinking about Baptism for your child. At Christ Church we offer two approaches, and we would love to talk with you about which is right for your family.
Thanksgiving Service
A thanksgiving service is a beautiful way to give thanks for the life of your child and to commit to raising them with faith and love. This service does not involve water and is sometimes preferred by families who wish to allow their child to make their own decision about baptism when they are older.
Baptism (Christening)
Baptism involves water and is the formal entry into the Christian faith. During the service, promises are made to God on behalf of the child by parents and godparents. Godparents play an important role: they commit to supporting the child in their faith journey throughout life.
Getting Started
The first step is simply to get in touch. We will arrange a time to meet and talk through everything with you, completely without pressure.
Enquire About a Baptism
We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch and we will respond as soon as possible.
Contact Us →Common Questions
What is Thanksgiving?
"Thanksgiving for the gift of a child" is a celebration to mark the birth and naming of your child. We give thanks to God for your child’s new life, and commit both you and the child to God, asking for his help and blessing in the years to come. It is the sort of service that almost anyone who believes in God can stand up and take part in, even if they are not sure what else they believe. It’s a way in which parents can express their gratitude for the birth of the child, and receive God’s blessing on them and the child.
What is a Baptism
For parents who bring children to be baptised, the service involves making promises before God and the congregation to be a wholehearted follower of Jesus Christ (which includes a commitment to being part of the church community). A baptism is also a celebration, often with lots of friends and relatives, but rather more is involved. You and "godparents" make very solemn promises before God which are effectively a public declaration of basic Christian belief involving: (i)… deciding to turn away from the natural way of doing things, and letting God rule every area of our lives (what the Bible calls "repentance") and (ii)… deciding to follow Jesus Christ and accept God’s forgiveness made possible by his death on the Cross (this is what the Bible calls choosing to "believe"). The promises and statements you and godparents make cannot be made lightly! Similarly, we pray and trust that a baptised child will grow up to understand and take on for themselves the promises made in baptism. For this reason, it is important to understand that baptism is the beginning of a lifelong commitment;it is not a one-off event which means that a child is "done"…
How do i know whether a Baptism or Thanksgiving is right for me?
If one or both parents are practicing Christians who are part of Christ Church family, then probably a Baptism service is appropriate. If you want to thank God for the gift of your child, but do not want to make the solemn promises before God and other people that Baptism involves, then the Thanksgiving service is for you. Thanksgiving is also for those who feel they want to acknowledge God and seek his help in the child’s upbringing. Of course, your child can always be baptised later on as well, should you, or the child (when older and able understand the promises made) want this. That is why a lot of committed Christians, too, opt for this service.
Is the Thanksgiving 'second class' Baptism?
Definitely not! The two services are different ways of responding to God’s gift of a child and both are treated by the Church as great occasions. Thanksgivings are a first class alternative and joyfully used by both committed Christians and those who are not. Either way the child’s spiritual status is the same.
Do I have to come to Church?
If you decide to have a Thanksgiving service, this does not imply any ongoing commitment to come to church gatherings. We would love to see you - and you might be surprised by what you find! - but the Thanksgiving does not involve any promises to that effect. The Church of England Baptism service, by contrast, does include the clear statement by parents and godparents that they will help their children "take their place within the life and worship of the church".
Baptism/Thanksgiving preparation
We hope this information is helpful, but please don't worry if you still have questions! The church is not for perfect people, but for ordinary people like us, who are honest enough to recognise our need of God. So, before we can consider offering you a date for Baptism or Thanksgiving, we ask you to come along to church, meet with the Vicar on a separate occasion, this will give you an opportunity to hear more about the services from Darren our Vicar. You will also get the chance to ask any questions you may have at this stage.
Other Life Events
Christ Church is here for every chapter of life.