Baptisms and Thanksgivings
At St Mary’s and St John’s, we look forward to sharing your joy with you as you celebrate the birth of your Child. A Baptism Service or a Service of Thanksgiving for the birth of your child is a wonderful start to your child’s life and can help you as you begin the amazing journey of bringing up your Child in this challenging world by putting God at the centre of your hope for your child and your family ‘s life.
Baptism
At your child’s christening, they will be baptised. To prepare for this wonderful event, we ask families to attend Sunday services twice in person at St Mary’s or St John’s before emailed Rev Jonny Blair to arrange a visit from one of the Clergy. Following that visit, a date for baptism can be booked. Please see the step by step approach below.
The Church sees Baptism as a very important day in someone’s life, whatever age they are. Key aspects of someone’s Baptism include following Jesus and joining the Church family, which is why we ask families to come to a couple of services to see what their local Church is like, before we discuss matters of Church, faith and the Baptism service. It is also helpful for the Church to have an opportunity to hear how you find Church, its services and welcome.
Step 1
We invite your family to join us for 2 Sunday services at either St Mary’s or St John’s. Check the calendar or ‘Coming Up…’ which is displayed towards the bottom of the front page of the website on the right hand side to find out more about all our services. Most people find the most appropriate services to attend with small children are either the 10.30am at St. Mary’s Church or The 4 at St. John’s Church, where there will be other children also making a noise! You are all welcome.
Step 2
We invite you to email Rev Jonny Blair to request a visit, which will be from one of the Clergy team, to meet both Mum and Dad (essential) and, if possible, the child or children being baptised. This will be to discuss Baptism and Thanksgiving and talk about matters concerning Baptism, including Godparents.
The process for booking the date for your Child’s Baptism will be explained at that visit.
Baptism Services
For 2026, we are planning baptisms to be at the 10.30am service at St. Mary’s, usually on the 4th Sunday of the month.
Thanksgiving
For parents who do not wish to make the Baptism promises on behalf of their child at this stage but still want to come to Church to thank God for the gift of their child, a Service of Thanksgiving is available. The steps to follow are the same as for Baptism; please follow steps 1 and 2 below. Thanksgiving services will be discussed as part of the preparation evenings.
Adult Baptism
For people who have not already been baptised, we offer the opportunity to be baptised as a believer. If desired, this will be by total immersion. These baptisms are great events in the life of the Church and are the cause of much joy and celebration. Most people who have a believer’s baptism will have done an Alpha course recently and be regular members of the Church.
Contact Rev Jonny Blair for more information.
