Baptism

It is our experience that there are many reasons for seeking baptism, and it is our belief that most of these reasons are valid. Birth is usually associated with great joy; it is an encounter with the mystery of life. The desire for baptism can be a response to this - an unspoken meeting with the transcendent God. Baptism can express a need to make meaning of this new life experience as an experience of God.

We want to make this experience a happy occasion for you and your families, but at the same time it is our responsibility to respect the serious nature of your choice.

The first step is to make an appointment for the Vicar or Associate Priest to visit with you to discuss the meaning of baptism, and arrange a date for the baptism.

Unless there are special circumstances, baptism is not a private occasion. It is the practice these days in the Anglican Church to conduct baptism within worship services. This means that the baptism might be conducted either at the 10 am service or at a service of Holy Baptism at 12 noon on a date arranged. Ideally members of St Paul’s should be present as they also have a commitment to your children, so that they will come to know and share the love of God. Normally the baptism service takes place on a Sunday.

On the Sundays prior to the baptism we encourage you to come to the family Eucharist. This has a two-fold purpose. First, it allows you to become familiar with the surroundings and secondly, it is important for the people of St Paul’s to offer their hospitality and get to know you and your child a little, making the day of baptism more meaningful for you and for us.

At St Paul’s we try to make parents of young children feel welcome. We have an area of the church set aside for toddlers and there is Sunday school for children over the age of three. A crèche is available if you wish your children to be minded during part of the service.

The Vicar