Children are a wonderful gift from God. Naturally many parents want to celebrate their arrival with family and friends, and also to give thanks to God. To help celebrate we offer two types of service, a Service of Thanksgiving or a Service of Baptism, sometimes known as a Christening.
The birth or adoption of a child is a cause for celebration. Many people are overcome by a sense of awe at the creation of new life and want to express their thanks to God. A Service of Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for parents and families to give thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and to pray for family life. It may be a private celebration at home or in hospital, or it may be a public celebration in church, sometimes with a number of children.
This service is not the same as Baptism (sometimes called Christening), which is the sacrament of initiation into membership of the Church through baptism with water. The service involves words of personal commitment to Jesus Christ and to the church family, which you make on behalf of yourself and your child. Families coming for baptism hope that one day their child will be confirmed and make their own commitment to Jesus Christ.
