Organising a baptism

The font and its cover by Grinling Gibbons What is baptism?

Baptism is an important event in the life of any Christian. It marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives, the first step in response to God's love for us. For all involved, particularly the candidates but also parents and godparents, it is a joyful moment when we rejoice in what God has done for us in Christ, making serious promises and declaring our faith. The wider community of the local church and friends welcome the new Christian, promising support and prayer for the future.

The service paints many vivid pictures of what happens on the Christian way. There is the sign of the cross, the badge of faith in the Christian journey, which reminds us of Christ's death for us. The water of baptism, where we believe we die to sin and are raised to new life, unites us to Christ's dying and rising, a picture that can be brought home vividly by the way the baptism is administered. Water is also a sign of new life, as we are born again by water and the Spirit, as Jesus was at his baptism. And as a sign of that new life, a lighted candle is given to the candidate, a picture of the light of Christ conquering the darkness of evil. Everyone who is baptised walks in that light for the rest of their lives.

Getting baptised at All Hallows

At All Hallows, baptisms normally take place during our Sunday service, normally one Sunday each month.

If you live in the parish or regularly attend our church and would like your child (or yourself) to be baptised, we normally ask that you first speak to a member of the clergy during the Coffee Hour after our 11 am Sunday service. A meeting will then be organised in order to discuss the practicalities as well as the reasons why you want baptism for yourself or your child. Adults seeking baptism are normally asked to attend an 'explorer group', which is normally run every year.

In the case of children, It is usual to choose three god-parents, normally two of the same gender as the child. However, there are no hard and fast rules, and if you would like to have more or fewer godparents, do discuss this with the clergy.

Although the godparents do not necessarily all need to be Christians, it is important that they should be able, in conscience, to support the education of the child into the Christian faith.