Baptism is the oldest of the ceremonies within the Christian Church. It is a sacrament – a way of God pouring His loving kindness upon us – and marks our entrance into the Church. We are happy to baptise both babies & young children and older children & adults who can answer for themselves.
Adults and Young People Making the Promises for Themselves
If you would like to be baptised then the first thing is to speak to a member of the congregation who will be able to put you in touch with a minister. Baptism isn’t a private rite reflecting a private faith but a public act of commitment to Jesus Christ in His Church. To this end those being baptised affirm their faith in God, determination to live as committed disciples and are, upon baptism, immediately admitted into membership of the Church. We prepare people for baptism through a mixture of discussion, reflection, prayer and through the experience of weekly worship with us. Baptism may be administered by pouring water on your head or through total immersion – where your whole body is immersed in water.
Babies and Young Children
It has been traditional for parents to bring their children for baptism since the earliest days of the Church. Parents wish to give thanks to God for the birth of their child, celebrate the new arrival and promise to bring the child up as a Christian in the context of a local church. Clearly, when the children are young they can’t make the declaration of faith or the promises for themselves. In these services the promises are made by parents and godparents who promise to bring the child up as a Christian within the life of the Church. Baptism for babies and young children is administered by water being poured on the head. Parents make the declaration of faith and promises to bring up their child as a Christian.
In both services promises are made; we are sure that God keeps His promise to care for and love us even if we fail in our promises.