Christenings

What does christening involve?

The gift of a child touches something deep in us, and makes us want to make some sort of a response to God. This leads a good number of people every year to contact us at St James to enquire about having their child "Christened".

There are actually two ways to go about this:

• We can thank God for the gift of a child, and ask for his blessing on him/her - a service called "Thanksgiving for a child". Read the section headed "Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child" in the next column if you want to explore that option more fully.
  
  
• For committed Christian parents, who intend to bring their children up within the Christian Faith and as members of the Church, there is "Baptism". Baptism is a sign that you intend to follow Jesus, and promises are made that you will do so (or, in the case of a baby, that the parents will bring him/her up to do so). Read on if you want to explore that option.

If you are thinking of Christening for your child, it is important that you think carefully about what is the right way for you to go about it. Do you want to say thank-you to God and ask his blessing as your child grows? Or do you intend to bring up the child within the Christian Faith, and make promises to do so?

If you would like to talk this over with the Vicar or the Curate, one of them will be only too pleased to come and see you.

All our Christenings take place within our Contemperory Service at 9.30 am on a Sunday morning.

Baptism in the Church of England

[The contents of this section are adapted from a leaflet published by the Communications Unit of the General Synod of the Church of England, Church House, Gt Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ.]

Each year, more than a quarter of all babies born in England are brought to their parish churches to be baptised or, in modern usage, christened. Many adults seek baptism, too. Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan and told his friends to baptise others. Thus, baptism has always been a sign of and a way of becoming a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ.

At first, baptism was normally for adults. It came to take place on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Day. People were prepared for baptism by being taught the basics of Christian belief. Reminded of the Good Friday story of Crucifixion, they repented of their sins and were assured that God forgave them. In baptism, they were received into the Church with all the joy of the Resurrection.

Baptisms often took place in a river. The new Christians were dipped under the water, marking their death to an old way of life, and lifted up again as a sign of new birth.

Baptising babies

The custom of baptising babies grew up as Christian parents wanted their children to belong to Christ and be part of the Church. This was particularly important when Christians were being persecuted and dying for their faith.

Today, the Church baptises both children and adults. There is no particular age at which baptism is right. What matters is that those concerned believe that it is right to ask for baptism.

There will be many reasons why people seek baptism for themselves or for their children. One mum called on a priest and asked how soon he "could do their five children". Asked what the hurry was, she replied, "My mother-in-law has baked a nice cake!" Others believe that, unless their baby is baptised, the child will go to hell. The Church believes that God loves each and every one of us, whether baptised or not.

Baptism today

Baptisms take place at the font in the local church. In St James, as in many churches, the font is near the main door of the church to symbolise baptism as the way in to membership of the Church. The font is a basin on a pedestal.

Baptisms often took place on a Sunday afternoon with just the priest, parents, family and friends present. Now, St James, in common with many other churches, has returned to an earlier tradition where baptism is part of one of the weekly Sunday morning contemporary services, so that the child or adult can be seen to be joining the family of the Church and be welcomed into membership.

Godparents

Babies cannot express their own wishes about being baptised, nor can they make the promises to follow Christ that are required at baptism. Each child has the promises made on his or her behalf by parents and godparents (sometimes called sponsors). Adults being baptised can make the promises for themselves and, so, do not need godparents.

Godparents are friends chosen by the parents to help bring up children in the Christian faith until they can make the promises for themselves at the service of confirmation.

The Church normally requires at least three godparents: two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex; parents can also be godparents. Godparents should be baptised and confirmed members of the Church.

Godparents have been chosen in the past for their wealth or their ability to look after the child in the event of the parents' death. Today, the Church is re-emphasising the spiritual needs of the child and asking parents to choose godparents who can make the required promises with integrity.

What happens at baptism

Parents and godparents are reminded of their duties in these words: "The children whom you have brought for baptism depend chiefly on you for the help and encouragement they need. Are you willing to give it to them by your prayers, by your example and by your teaching?"

The central act of the service is always the same. Parents and godparents gather round the font with the baby. The priest or other minister asks them if, on behalf of the baby and of themselves, they turn to Christ, repent of their sins and renounce evil. The parents and godparents are asked if they believe in God the Father who made the world, in God the Son who redeemed mankind and in God the Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God. They reply: "I believe and trust in him."

Holding the child, the priest pours water over its forehead. Using its Christian names, the priest declares: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Pouring the water (a reminder of those original baptisms in a river) gives the sacrament its name of baptism, from the Greek word for dipping or plunging in water. It symbolises Christ washing new Christians free from sin and uniting them with his death and resurrection.

The priest makes the sign of the Cross on the child's forehead to show that it should "not be afraid to confess the faith of Christ crucified".

In St James, a lighted candle is presented to the family to remind them that "Christ is the light of the world" and that the newly baptised, too, should shine as a light in the world to the glory of God.

Declaring that the child has been received into the Church, the priest and congregation then welcome it into membership.

This is suitably adjusted for adult baptisms.

Baptism in emergency

A child is sometimes baptised in an emergency, usually when there seems to be some danger to its life. In these circumstances, anyone (not necessarily a committed Christian) can perform the baptism by pouring a little water on the child and, calling it by its Christian name, saying: "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." If the child recovers, the rest of the service - welcoming it as a member of the Church - takes place in a church, as soon as possible.

Preparation

In common with most parishes, Bolton St James provides careful preparation before a baptism. So, before making any plans about times or dates or the choice of godparents for a baby's christening, or any christening, the parents should consult the Rev David Swales. He will explain all the details. Preparation may vary from a single conversation about the meaning of the service to a series of classes or training sessions.

When to be baptised

There is no "right" age at which to be baptised. Child or adult, God loves each one of us and welcomes us into the Church at any age. If you decide to be baptised as a teenager or adult, your preparation will probably lead you to both baptism and confirmation, after which you can participate fully in the Holy Communion or Eucharist, the other Gospel sacrament.

Fonts

St James church has a raised font on a pedestal at the back of the church and also a smaller portable font which can be used at the front. (Some churches, but not St James, have a font let into the floor where people are baptised by immersion. This tradition follows more nearly the practice of the early church.)

Photography

At St James, we ask that no flash photographs be taken during the baptism itself, though discrete videoing of the ceremony is permitted. Photographs may be taken round the font after the service, and the Vicar will help ensure that those give a real portrayal of what has taken place.

Thanksgiving for the gift of a child

The birth or adoption of a child is a cause for celebration. Many people are overcome by a sense of awe at the creation of new life and want to express their thanks to God. The service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child provides an opportunity for parents and families to give thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and to pray for family life. At St James, we like to make this service really special by building it into our Sunday morning Family Service so that everyone in St James can join in.

The service is not the same as Baptism, which is the sacrament of initiation into membership of the Church, the Body of Christ. Read the earlier material on this page to find out more about baptism.

What happens in Church?

At an appropriate point in the 9.30 Sunday morning contemporary service, the Vicar invites the family to bring the child out to the front of church; and special friends or sponsors may, if they wish, join the family there.The short service of thanksgiving takes place (see the next section), then a specially-inscribed copy of the Gospel is presented.

Photography

At St James, we ask that no flash photographs be taken during the Thanksgiving itself, though discrete videoing of the ceremony is permitted. Photographs may be taken after the service, and the Vicar will help ensure that those give a real portrayal of what has taken place.

The service

Here is the form of words that we use when it comes to the time for the Thanksgiving in the Family Service ...

The minister says:

Today we give thanks for this child, with his family and friends, and support his parents in their responsibilities with prayer and love. God became one of us in Jesus, and understands all that surrounds the arrival and upbringing of children. It is God's purpose that children should know love within the stability of their home, grow in faith, and come at last to the eternal city where his love reigns supreme.

The minister asks the parents:

Parents, do you receive this child as a gift from God?

The parents answer:

We do.

The minister asks the parents:

Do you wish to give thanks to God and seek his blessing?

The parents answer:

We do.

The minister says:

God our creator,
We thank you for the wonder of new life
and for the mystery of human love.
We thank you for all whose support and skill
surround and sustain the beginning of life.
We thank you that we are known to you by name
and loved by you from all eternity.
We thank you for Jesus Christ,
who has opened to us the way of love.
We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

The minister asks the parents:

What name have you given this child?

The parents reply:

His/her name is .....

The minister takes the child and says:

As Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them,
so now we ask God's blessing on ....

Heavenly Father,
we praise you for his/her birth;
surround him/her with your blessing
that he/she may know your love,
be protected from evil,
and know your goodness all his/her days.

A copy of a Gospel is presented, with these words:

Receive this book.
It is the good news of God's love.
Take it as your guide.

The minister prays for the parents:

May God the Father of all bless these parents and give them grace to love and care for their children. May God give them wisdom, patience and faith, help them to provide for the children's needs and, by their example, reveal the love and truth that are in Jesus Christ.

Amen.