What is Baptism?
Baptism is the way in which people become part of the church and requires the individual to declare their own Christian faith and promise to continue to follow God for the whole of their life.
Young children who are unable to declare their own faith are baptised on the understanding that they will be brought up to live the Christian faith through the example of their parents and godparents. For this reason, as part of the service, parents and godparents are required to make a declaration of their own Christian beliefs (see below).
During the service, the family gather round the font and the priest pours water on the child's head as a sign of being washed free from sin and beginning a new life in Christ. The child is also 'marked' with a sign of a cross, as a symbol of belonging to Christ, and is given a lighted candle representing the light of Christ to guide them on their journey of faith. As part of the service, we pray for the child and their family.