Christenings

We really enjoy welcoming families for christenings (also called baptisms) and will always try to do our best to accommodate your needs. It is great to be able to celebrate a new birth or a spiritual step forward with you.  If you prefer, a thanksgiving service can be arranged instead.

Christenings usually happen in a special service at 12.30pm after our main morning service has ended but you can opt to have it during the main 10.30am service, numbers permitting.

Christenings are an important step which mark the beginning of our Christian journey and our aim is to walk alongside you as much as you wish. The baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist marked the start of his public ministry and it was an important step for Him especially when a reminder came in a voice from heaven that He was God’s beloved Son.

You can be christened/baptised as an adult or as a child. In the case of a child they will need god-parents to speak on their behalf along with their parents. Once we have agreed to a baptism one of our team of lay people will visit you to discuss what happens, what baptism is about, to answer any questions and to complete your papers so that the register can be filled-in correctly. In the case of an adult one of the clergy will spend time with you thinking about the basics of the Christian Faith.

Godparents…ideally all Godparents should be baptised for us to be able to enter their names in the registers, but we recognise that this isn’t always possible. Normally they must be able to attend but if not they can have someone stand in or….we have internet facilities which mean that Godparents can take part live on screen from anywhere in the world. It also means that relations can watch live via a web-broadcast. Please talk to us about this. 

Making a booking: Please ring Billie Tweedy, one of our Licensed Lay Ministers, on 01993 845216.You will be asked where you live as we can only give an immediate “yes” if you live in Carterton (includes Shilton Park). If you live elsewhere we will discuss the possibilities. Normally we can agree a date during the call, you will then be offered a choice of dates to attend an information evening where you can talk through the service and tailor-make the service so that it is unique to you. We ask that at least one parent attend this short meeting. Information evenings for 2023 are provisionally scheduled for 23rd January, 6th March, 15th May, 10th July, 18th September and 13th November.

There is no charge for Baptisms although voluntary donations are very welcome. There is a charge of £16 for a baptism certificate, issued at the time of the service. If you want to have one at a later date it will be £32.