Baptisms

If you are exploring baptising your child or getting baptised yourself, we are delighted that you are doing so, and we welcome all enquiries about baptism in our parish.

We usually conduct baptisms during the main Sunday services at St Mary and St John Church at 10.30am or St Albans at 9:30am. Visiting children are most welcome to make use of our children’s provision at either church.

If you would like to talk about baptising your child or about your own faith journey, please contact us by emailing vicarcsj@gmail.com 

What is Baptism?

Baptism is a public act in which we respond to God’s love as revealed in Jesus Christ. In the Church of England and wider Anglican Church, it is common to baptise babies and young children, a practice that we sometimes call a “christening.” In doing so, we thank God for his gift of life, in the company of family, friends and the community of faith.

Baptism is a “sacrament,” that is, an outward and physical act which symbolises an inward and spiritual grace. We can trace this Christian ritual back to the baptism of Jesus himself in the River Jordan by John the Baptist.

A person’s baptism is a marker in — and often the beginning of — a journey of faith that involves turning towards Christ and away from anything evil, an act which brings one into fellowship with the community of Christians, not only in one’s locality but also throughout the world.

Find out more

For more information about baptisms visit: https://churchofenglandchristenings.org/