Baptism
The birth of a child is the start of quite an adventure! It often raises big questions about meaning and faith, and this leads many parents to consider having their baby baptised (christened).
It is usual to have a child baptised at the local parish church, so in Severn Loop we would expect you to live in the parish if you inquire about baptism for your baby. However, we do welcome families with a historic link to our churches as well.
In having a baby baptised, parents and godparents are making the promises of the Christian Faith on behalf of one too young to say them. They are asked the following questions:
Do you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.
To see the full text of a Baptism service, go to Baptism and Confirmation | The Church of England.
Thanksgiving
In some cases, parents may feel unable to make those responses, and yet would still like to have a special service to give thanks to God for the birth of their child. In that instance, A service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child may be more appropriate. To find out more, go to Rites on the Way: Approaching Baptism | The Church of England.
Some parents may prefer to wait until their child is old enough to make a decision about baptism for themselves. People can only be baptised once- it is an once-in-eternity event! So, if an older child (or adult) would like to explore baptism, do get in touch.
Confirmation
Once baptised individuals reach the age of around eleven years or more, they can, if they wish, go forward for Confirmation. This is an important part of a lifetime journey of faith. To find out more, go to Confirmation | The Church of England, and then do get in touch if you would like to discuss the possibility of getting confirmed.
‘When Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’’
Luke 3: 21-22