Christening or baptism: is there a difference?
None worth worrying about. A christening and an infant baptism are the same service; christening is simply the everyday English word for it. During the service the child is baptised with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, which is why clergy tend to say baptism while grandparents tend to say christening. Both are correct.
Your parish church will say yes
The Church of England baptises any child living in the parish, and the vicar cannot refuse simply because the parents are not churchgoers. You do not need to be married, you do not need to have been baptised yourselves, and the christening itself is free. There may be small optional costs if you want extras such as a certificate copy or bells, but no one should be handed a bill for the baptism.
Christenings usually happen either within the main Sunday service, so the congregation can welcome the child, or at a separate afternoon service for family and friends. Practice varies from parish to parish, so ring the church office or find your local church and ask what they offer.
Godparents
Godparents promise to pray for the child, to help them grow in faith and to support the parents. Traditionally a child has three godparents, two of the same sex as the child and one of the other, though churches are flexible about numbers. In the Church of England godparents should themselves be baptised; close friends or relatives who are not can often stand alongside as supporting adults. Choose people who will still be present in your child's life in twenty years, not just at the party afterwards.
What happens in the service
- The minister welcomes the family and explains the promises
- Parents and godparents make declarations of faith on the child's behalf
- The child is signed with the cross, sometimes with special oil
- Water is poured over the child's head three times at the font
- A lighted candle is given to the family as a symbol of faith
The whole thing is short, warm and remarkably toddler-proof. Crying, wriggling and the occasional shout are all completely normal, and no minister in Britain will bat an eyelid.
Believer's baptism
Baptist, Pentecostal and many independent evangelical churches practise believer's baptism instead: baptism follows a personal profession of faith, usually by full immersion in a baptistry pool. Children in these churches are commonly given a service of dedication or thanksgiving as infants, with baptism coming later when they choose it for themselves, whether as teenagers or adults.
Catholic christenings
Roman Catholic parishes usually baptise infants within the first months of life. Parents attend a short preparation session, and at least one godparent should be a confirmed, practising Catholic. Adults who wish to become Catholic follow a longer journey of preparation through the parish and are typically baptised or received at Easter.
Adult baptism
Plenty of people reach adulthood unbaptised and later come to faith, and churches love nothing more. In the Church of England an adult candidate prepares with the vicar, often alongside confirmation, and makes the promises in person that parents and godparents would otherwise make for them. There is no upper age limit and no awkwardness about it; adult baptisms are joyful occasions.
A thanksgiving service as an alternative
Not ready for the promises a christening involves? Many churches offer a service of thanksgiving for the gift of a child. It marks the birth with prayer and celebration but makes no baptismal vows, leaving the child free to choose baptism later. It is a lovely option for families who want the church without wanting to promise what they do not yet believe.
How to book
- Contact the church where you live, or one where you worship
- Meet the minister, who will explain the service and the promises
- Choose godparents and a date; summer Sundays fill up quickly
- Invite everyone, and relax: the church has done this thousands of times