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Infant Baptism
Believer's Baptism
Confirmation
Baptism (often called a Christening) is a sign and symbol of the beginning of a life-long journey of faith.
Baptism happens within a main Sunday service and is an opportunity for parents to thank God for the life of their child and to make promises on their behalf that they will bring their child up in the Christian faith. Godparents also make these promises and the church promises to welcome the child into the church family and to pray for the family.
These promises shouldn’t be made lightly and we ask everyone who is considering having their child baptised to be involved in three preparation evenings where there will be an opportunity to ask questions, find out more about what baptism involves and meet the clergy person who will be baptising your child.
After the preparation evenings, some parents decide not to have their child baptised and want to simply have a chance to thank God for their birth or adoption and to pray for them without the commitment of the promises a baptism asks for. This is called a ‘Thanksgiving’ and also happens in a Sunday service.
A Thanksgiving Service is not a Baptism. There are no promises to make about the Christian faith. The child will be blessed and prayed for, and supporting friends will promise to support the parents in bringing up their baby.
To find out more about baptism, contact Mandy in the Church Office (01536 517553).
You can also read more about what baptism is about and what happens on the Church of England website.
Believer's Baptism
Whenever it happens, whether as a baby, child or adult, baptism is at the heart of an amazing journey of faith as a follower of Jesus Christ. You are never too old to take this step, and being baptised as an adult is a wonderful experience.
You may have been baptised at a christening when you were a child, or in a different Christian tradition, and there are always special ways to renew the promises that were made then as you discover more about what it means to live them out in your life.
To find out more about believer's baptism at Christ the King, contact Mandy in the Church Office (01536 517553)
You can also read more about what believer's baptism is about and what happens on the Church of England website
Confirmation
Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptised. If you were baptised at a christening when you were a child, your parents and godparents made these promises on your behalf. As a young person or adult, you may be ready to affirm these promises for yourself and commit your life to following Jesus Christ. At a confirmation service, you make these promises for yourself. Your friends and family as well, as the local Christian community, will be there to promise to support and pray for you.
The local Bishop will lay their hands on your head and ask God’s Holy Spirit to give you the strength and commitment to live God’s way for the rest of your life.
You can also read more about what confirmation is about and what happens on the Church of England website