Holy Baptism

‘We do well to remember that the Bible has far more to say about how to live the journey than about the final destination.’ Philip Yancey

Your child is precious to you and precious to God. You want the very best for them, and so does God. You want them to make right choices in life, for themselves and for others.

A christening is just the beginning of this and so much more.

Over the years to come, it’s a journey you’ll share together with your child by:

Being there for your child to talk to about the bigger questions of life – questions about hope, faith and love.
Praying for your child through the ups and downs of their faith journey.
Showing them practically how to make those good choices in life.
Helping them to learn more about their Christian faith, through their church and in other ways.

So, it’s a commitment to start as you mean to go on.

Baptisms in The Wenlock Group of Parishes

Baptism in water in the name of the Holy Trinity (God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is the means by which a person becomes a Christian and a member of the Church. In Baptism, he or she turns from sin (“falling short of the glory of God”) and turns towards the life and love of Jesus Christ in the company of others. It is a serious commitment, but it is offered freely. It is good to be prepared for Baptism, and good to follow it up by becoming part of the worshipping community, but, again, we take people as they are. When we accept Baptism for ourselves or for our children, we accept that life has meaning, and that God has a loving purpose for our lives.

“The Wenlock Team Ministry is committed to an open baptism policy in accordance with the teaching and practice of the Church of England. We seek to make it widely known that we welcome all for baptism (sometimes called christening) regardless of their parents’ marital status or their own. We will baptise all adults and teenagers who ask for baptism, and all children whose parents or legal guardians bring them. If a person comes from outside the Wenlock Team Ministry, the goodwill of their own parish priest must be sought.”

Wenlock Team Policy, 2015.

Baptism and Canon Law

It is desirable that every minister having a cure of souls shall normally administer the sacrament of Holy Baptism on Sundays at public worship when the most number of people come together, that the congregation there present may witness the receiving of them that be newly baptized into Christ's Church, and be put in remembrance of their own profession made to God in their baptism. Canon B21

Baptisms in the Wenlock Team normally take place during the main Sunday Service or following the main Sunday Service in Much Wenlock and Cound. In exceptional pastoral circumstances baptisms can take place on a Saturday, but at the discretion of the Incumbent and it is not normal practice in the Wenlock Team of Parishes.

When a child lives in another parish and the parents or guardians are not on the Electoral Roll, the Baptism should not take place without consultation between the clergy of the two parishes. The incumbent intending to baptise should seek the goodwill of the clergy of the parish (or non-parochial church) where the family live.

The Example of Jesus

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrew 12.1-2