Being a Godparent
Being a godparent is an important undertaking. By making the vows at a baptism service you are committing yourself to a lifelong relationship in which you will help to nurture your godchild in the Christian faith, and be their friend and supporter whenever they need you. In order to be a godparent you must have been baptised yourself. If you have not, and would like to please discuss this with your local priest.
The Journey
The Christian faith can be seen as a journey – a journey to God and accompanied by God. Baptism is the start of the journey, at which we set out with hope and joy. Like any journey we can sometimes go the direct route and at other times get hopelessly lost along the way. Godparents are travelling companions to their godchildren helping to guide them, support them, pick them up when they have fallen. In order to do this you have to be confident that you can be there for them at these moments and that you can be their trusted and trustworthy friend.
Starting Out
You become a godparent when you take vows at a baptism service. Since your principal task is nurturing your godchild in the Christian faith your are asked to declare your belief in God, and to promise that you will act upon that belief by turning away from evil and seeking after God’s goodness.
You will be asked the following questions:
Parents and godparents, the Church receives these children with joy. Today we are trusting God for their growth in faith. Will you pray for them, draw them by your example into the Christian community and walk with them on their Christian journey?
Parents and godparents respond:
With the help of God, we will.
In baptism, these children begin their journey of faith. You speak for them today. Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?
Parents and godparents respond:
With the help of God, we will.
We then come to “The Decision” when you declare that you will do your best to turn away from evil and follow God.
The priest says
In Baptism we start our journey with Christ through which we receive his grace and truth. In Baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Therefore I ask
Do you turn to Christ?
Parents and godparents respond:
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of yours sins?
Parents and godparents respond:
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
Parents and godparents respond:
I renounce evil.
Godparents along with parents and the rest of the congregation are also asked to declare their belief in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The priest says
Let us affirm together with those who are being baptised, our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you believe and trust in God, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?
All respond:
I believe and trust in God.
Do you believe and trust in Jesus Christ, who took our human nature died for us and rose again?
All respond:
I believe and trust in Jesus Christ
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit, who give life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world?
All respond:
I believe and trust in the Holy Spirit
This is the faith of the Church
All respond:
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Please think carefully whether you can take these vows in good conscience. In making them you are giving a major commitment to your godchild, and to your faith-journey.
You are never on your own
Although these vows might seem very daunting, don’t despair. You are undertaking this commitment “with the help of God” as it says in the first set of vows. Also as a church we try to support parents and godparents as best we can. If there is anything we can do to help either now or in the future please do contact us.
Two other things
There are two other things godparents have to do as part of the service.
The first thing is that one of the parents or godparents have to present the child for baptism. They say “I present N (name of child) to be baptised and made a member of the Body of Christ, the Church.”
Please discuss among the other godparents of your godchild which one of you is going to do this.
The second is that when the children are signed on their foreheads with oil, parents and godparents are invited to join in. The priest officiating will offer the oil to you and you dip your finger in it and make the sign of the cross on the forehead of your godchild.
Handy hints
There are so many ways you can be a good godparent. Here are just a few
There is a common misunderstanding which makes people think that godparents would be the carers for a child if the child’s parents were to die. This is not the case. Such people are legal guardians. This is something you would have to discuss with a solicitor.
Being a godparent is an important undertaking. By making the vows at a baptism service you are committing yourself to a lifelong relationship in which you will help to nurture your godchild in the Christian faith, and be their friend and supporter whenever they need you. In order to be a godparent you must have been baptised yourself. If you have not, and would like to please discuss this with your local priest.
The Journey
The Christian faith can be seen as a journey – a journey to God and accompanied by God. Baptism is the start of the journey, at which we set out with hope and joy. Like any journey we can sometimes go the direct route and at other times get hopelessly lost along the way. Godparents are travelling companions to their godchildren helping to guide them, support them, pick them up when they have fallen. In order to do this you have to be confident that you can be there for them at these moments and that you can be their trusted and trustworthy friend.
Starting Out
You become a godparent when you take vows at a baptism service. Since your principal task is nurturing your godchild in the Christian faith your are asked to declare your belief in God, and to promise that you will act upon that belief by turning away from evil and seeking after God’s goodness.
You will be asked the following questions:
Parents and godparents, the Church receives these children with joy. Today we are trusting God for their growth in faith. Will you pray for them, draw them by your example into the Christian community and walk with them on their Christian journey?
Parents and godparents respond:
With the help of God, we will.
In baptism, these children begin their journey of faith. You speak for them today. Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?
Parents and godparents respond:
With the help of God, we will.
We then come to “The Decision” when you declare that you will do your best to turn away from evil and follow God.
The priest says
In Baptism we start our journey with Christ through which we receive his grace and truth. In Baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Therefore I ask
Do you turn to Christ?
Parents and godparents respond:
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of yours sins?
Parents and godparents respond:
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
Parents and godparents respond:
I renounce evil.
Godparents along with parents and the rest of the congregation are also asked to declare their belief in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The priest says
Let us affirm together with those who are being baptised, our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you believe and trust in God, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?
All respond:
I believe and trust in God.
Do you believe and trust in Jesus Christ, who took our human nature died for us and rose again?
All respond:
I believe and trust in Jesus Christ
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit, who give life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world?
All respond:
I believe and trust in the Holy Spirit
This is the faith of the Church
All respond:
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Please think carefully whether you can take these vows in good conscience. In making them you are giving a major commitment to your godchild, and to your faith-journey.
You are never on your own
Although these vows might seem very daunting, don’t despair. You are undertaking this commitment “with the help of God” as it says in the first set of vows. Also as a church we try to support parents and godparents as best we can. If there is anything we can do to help either now or in the future please do contact us.
Two other things
There are two other things godparents have to do as part of the service.
The first thing is that one of the parents or godparents have to present the child for baptism. They say “I present N (name of child) to be baptised and made a member of the Body of Christ, the Church.”
Please discuss among the other godparents of your godchild which one of you is going to do this.
The second is that when the children are signed on their foreheads with oil, parents and godparents are invited to join in. The priest officiating will offer the oil to you and you dip your finger in it and make the sign of the cross on the forehead of your godchild.
Handy hints
There are so many ways you can be a good godparent. Here are just a few
- Spending time with your godchild
- praying for them
- praying with them
- taking them to church
- buying them childrens’ bible stories
- remembering them on their birthday, at Christmas, and on their anniversary of baptism.
There is a common misunderstanding which makes people think that godparents would be the carers for a child if the child’s parents were to die. This is not the case. Such people are legal guardians. This is something you would have to discuss with a solicitor.