Baptism

We are always delighted to discuss baptism for children or adults.

Baptism at St Andrew's

Baptism is one of the principal sacraments of the Christian faith. It marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship and welcomes a child into the family of God and the life of the Church.

During the service, parents and godparents make promises to support and encourage a child in the Christian faith. These promises are also shared by the wider church community, which commits itself to helping children and families grow in faith and belonging.

In a society where many people retain a connection to Christianity as part of our culture, we believe it is important to distinguish between cultural Christianity and living faith. Baptism is not simply a family tradition or a special ceremony; it is an invitation into the story of Jesus Christ and participation in the life of his Church.

For this reason, we encourage families seeking baptism to become part of the worshipping life of St Andrew's before a baptism takes place. This gives us the opportunity to get to know one another and to explore together the meaning of the promises being made.

The Baptism Journey

We begin with a Baptism Evening, held four times a year at Home Community Café. These gatherings include a shared meal, the opportunity to meet other families and a conversation about baptism and faith.

Our next Baptism Evening is being planned and dates will be posted here.

The pathway to baptism is simple:

  1. Begin worshipping with us on Sundays.

  2. Attend a Baptism Evening.

  3. Meet with the Incumbent to discuss baptism and next steps.

  4. Arrange a date for the baptism service.

As a guide, there is usually a period of three to six months between an initial enquiry and the baptism itself. This allows time for preparation, relationship-building and participation in the life of the church community.

We look forward to welcoming you and accompanying you on this journey.

Rev Johnny Sertin, Vicar