Baptism
The Bible tells us that Jesus himself was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, and that Jesus commanded his disciples to go out into the world and “baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 25:16-20)
Baptism is a sacrament (which means a holy and sacred act) for anyone who wants to publicly declare themselves as a follower of Jesus. The Church welcomes all who want to put their faith in Jesus Christ and commit themselves to God and His Church through baptism.
During baptism, you will:
We are joyful to help prepare each candidate—and their family, if the candidate is an infant—for this special gift from God. Since baptism is a celebration of great joy, the ceremony takes place during Sunday worship.
During baptism, you will:
- Promise to turn away from sin and follow Jesus, who brings light and forgiveness.
- Be anointed with holy oil, showing that God has called you to be a disciple of Jesus.
- Be washed with water, symbolising a fresh start—being born again by water and the Spirit.
- Join the Church family at the communion table, receiving bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ.
We are joyful to help prepare each candidate—and their family, if the candidate is an infant—for this special gift from God. Since baptism is a celebration of great joy, the ceremony takes place during Sunday worship.
Can children and babies be baptised as well as adults?
We believe that God’s Holy Spirit is at work in everyone’s life. Often, He leads parents to commit to raising their child as a Christian. At baptism, parents make these special promises to God on their child’s behalf.
As the child grows, they can choose to take responsibility for these promises themselves through Confirmation by the Bishop.
Because baptism is the beginning of your child’s lifelong journey with Jesus, we encourage you to choose godparents. Godparents promise to support you in raising your child in the Christian faith, pray for them regularly, and encourage them to be part of the Church.
We believe that God’s Holy Spirit is at work in everyone’s life. Often, He leads parents to commit to raising their child as a Christian. At baptism, parents make these special promises to God on their child’s behalf.
As the child grows, they can choose to take responsibility for these promises themselves through Confirmation by the Bishop.
Because baptism is the beginning of your child’s lifelong journey with Jesus, we encourage you to choose godparents. Godparents promise to support you in raising your child in the Christian faith, pray for them regularly, and encourage them to be part of the Church.
What Baptism is not
Sometimes people misunderstand baptism because of traditions or things they’ve heard. Here are some common misunderstandings:
If you’re not sure baptism is right for you or your child right now, you might like to consider a Service of Thanksgiving instead. Baptism will still be an option later on.
Sometimes people misunderstand baptism because of traditions or things they’ve heard. Here are some common misunderstandings:
- Not just a party! While a celebration often follows, baptism is about serious promises made before God.
- Not a naming ceremony! It’s much more than that. Baptism is the start of a lifelong Christian journey and entry into the worldwide Church of God.
- Not a passport to heaven! Being baptised doesn’t guarantee heaven, and not being baptised doesn’t mean you’ll be kept out. God sees what’s truly in our hearts and minds.
- Not just a rite of passage – Baptism isn’t just something nice to do for family tradition. It’s a covenant (promise) with God.
If you’re not sure baptism is right for you or your child right now, you might like to consider a Service of Thanksgiving instead. Baptism will still be an option later on.
- Service of Thanksgiving
- When a new child joins the family—through birth or adoption—it’s always a reason to celebrate!
- Many parents want to thank God for their child’s life and ask for His blessing. We understand that some families may not be ready to make the promises required at baptism, but still want to involve God and the Church. In these cases, a Service of Thanksgiving can be the perfect choice.
At this service, we:
- Thank God for the life of your child.
- Pray for your child and anoint them with Holy Oil.
- Present them with their own Bible.
- Invite you to choose special supporters (like godparents) who promise to encourage and support your child and your family in faith.
If you would like to have God's blessing upon your child's life, or to explore baptism, then Get in touch!
We cant wait to hear from you!
We cant wait to hear from you!
