Baptisms & Thanksgivings

Christening your baby

There are two services that the Church offers to mark the beginning of a child’s life: Baptism, or Thanksgiving, and both are very meaningful. (Sometimes these services are called ‘christenings’).
 
Baptism is the first step of an amazing journey with Jesus. It’s a sign of God’s grace and love for his precious children, and it’s an opportunity for parents to publicly declare their faith in God and their desire to bring up their children in the church, the family of God. 
 
Thanksgiving is an opportunity for anyone, whatever their faith, to say thanks to God for the arrival of a child, marking the occasion in a special way with family and friends.
 
To enquire about either of these services, fill in the form below, or contact the church office. We will then arrange a time for you to meet with the vicar.

Baptism of older children
and Confirmation

Sometimes baptisms or thanksgivings are appropriate for older children. For example, a child who has recently been adopted, or an older sibling (not previously baptised and usually under 5 years of age) could be baptised at the same time as their new baby brother or sister.

Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptised, and publicly declares their faith in Jesus Christ. A confirmation service can be an important part of a lifetime journey of faith as a follower of Jesus Christ. We run occasional courses at St Peter’s for those wishing to be confirmed. For more information, contact the vicar.

Adult Baptism
and New Life

Baptism is not just for babies, it is a celebration of the ‘new birth’ that all Christians experience as they come to know the salvation Jesus offers for themselves. 

An adult who has not been baptised as a child, will often want to mark their new birth by an act of adult baptism, possibly combined with a Confirmation. This is often by full immersion in a baptism pool. For those who have already been baptised and confirmed but want to celebrate a newly discovered living faith, a reaffirmation of baptismal vows may be possible. If you’re interested in adult baptism, contact the vicar.