Purpose
The purpose of the evening is to introduce you to Baptism as it happens in Berkswich parish. We hope to inform you about the promises you will make as a parent or godparent, to share ideas with those in a similar situation and to let you know the process.
Click here to discover more about what the Preparation Evening entails.
Journey
Christians believe we are all on a journey with God. Baptism marks the beginning of this journey. As part of the Baptism Service, parents and godparents make public statements (promises) that they will be good companions to their child/godchild as they go on this journey.
At the Baptism Preparation Evening you will be given an opportunity to explore the nature of these promises and what it will mean for you and your child/godchild.
The decision as to whether you choose Baptism for your child/godchild will be entirely yours. At no stage will anyone else make a judgement as to whether you should or should not have your child baptised. All we seek to do is to inform you so that you can make the best decision for you and your child/godchild.
Godparents
Please consider carefully who your godparents are going to be. You will need a minimum of three. All godparents need to have been baptised themselves. The best godparents are often active members of a Church – although not necessarily members of the Church of England. They could be Roman Catholic, Methodist or a member of another Christian denomination. Whichever church they belong to, they need to have been baptised. For further information please see our “Being a Godparent” leaflet.
Deciding No
At the end of the preparation evening, some parents decide that they cannot make the promises or undertake the commitment that baptism involves. If this is your decision, you might like to think about having a Thanksgiving Service. You can discover more about the Thanksgiving Service at the Baptism Preparation Evening.
Other Practicalities
You may want to take photographs of the Baptism. We ask that you do this at the end of the service rather than during it. If you wish to video the service, please let your Baptism Visitor know. There is a charge for using a video camera and also you have to undertake to abide by certain copyright and logistical rules.
The Process
Attend Baptism Preparation Evening
Make the decision as to whether you want your child baptised
If you decide to proceed, you may contact the Parish Office from the following Monday after the preparation evening to book a date for the baptism. You will then be notified of your Baptism Visitor who will contact you to arrange all the details.
Charge
There is no charge for baptisms in Berkswich Parish. A giving envelope is however provided if you wish to make an offering to the church as a thanksgiving for the Baptism of your child. This will be used to support the work of the church and will help us to maintain our historical buildings. The church receives no state support and relies on peoples’ generosity.
The purpose of the evening is to introduce you to Baptism as it happens in Berkswich parish. We hope to inform you about the promises you will make as a parent or godparent, to share ideas with those in a similar situation and to let you know the process.
Click here to discover more about what the Preparation Evening entails.
Journey
Christians believe we are all on a journey with God. Baptism marks the beginning of this journey. As part of the Baptism Service, parents and godparents make public statements (promises) that they will be good companions to their child/godchild as they go on this journey.
At the Baptism Preparation Evening you will be given an opportunity to explore the nature of these promises and what it will mean for you and your child/godchild.
The decision as to whether you choose Baptism for your child/godchild will be entirely yours. At no stage will anyone else make a judgement as to whether you should or should not have your child baptised. All we seek to do is to inform you so that you can make the best decision for you and your child/godchild.
Godparents
Please consider carefully who your godparents are going to be. You will need a minimum of three. All godparents need to have been baptised themselves. The best godparents are often active members of a Church – although not necessarily members of the Church of England. They could be Roman Catholic, Methodist or a member of another Christian denomination. Whichever church they belong to, they need to have been baptised. For further information please see our “Being a Godparent” leaflet.
Deciding No
At the end of the preparation evening, some parents decide that they cannot make the promises or undertake the commitment that baptism involves. If this is your decision, you might like to think about having a Thanksgiving Service. You can discover more about the Thanksgiving Service at the Baptism Preparation Evening.
Other Practicalities
You may want to take photographs of the Baptism. We ask that you do this at the end of the service rather than during it. If you wish to video the service, please let your Baptism Visitor know. There is a charge for using a video camera and also you have to undertake to abide by certain copyright and logistical rules.
The Process
Attend Baptism Preparation Evening
Make the decision as to whether you want your child baptised
If you decide to proceed, you may contact the Parish Office from the following Monday after the preparation evening to book a date for the baptism. You will then be notified of your Baptism Visitor who will contact you to arrange all the details.
Charge
There is no charge for baptisms in Berkswich Parish. A giving envelope is however provided if you wish to make an offering to the church as a thanksgiving for the Baptism of your child. This will be used to support the work of the church and will help us to maintain our historical buildings. The church receives no state support and relies on peoples’ generosity.
