Holy Baptism

Baptism

From the earliest days of the Christian Church, Baptism has been the way in which people become Christians and members of the Church. The Gospels tell us that Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and that Jesus taught his disciples to go out into the world and baptize. Jesus teaches his people that all who would enter his kingdom must be born again of water and the Spirit. Baptism is the sign and seal of this new birth.
Christian Initiation has three important elements – baptism itself, confirmation, and becoming part of the worshipping family of the Church, in which Christians regularly receive Holy Communion, the body and blood of Christ.
Those who are baptized as children must be nurtured in faith, sustained by prayer, and welcomed into the worshipping and serving life of the Church and later be brought to Confirmation (by the Bishop). But when individuals are able to answer for themselves their entry into the family of the Church should be through one act of initiation where Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion), together express the:

turning away from darkness and sin,
the turning to Christ,
the washing or immersion in the waters of baptism,
the laying on of hands by the Bishop
the participation in the Eucharistic family of the Church.

Baptism should normally take place in church during the Eucharist. Water is poured over the head of the candidate for baptism three times in the Name of the God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Where it is possible, those who are older may be baptized by submersion or immersion in a body of water such as a baptismal pool. The act of baptism signifies our participation in the death of Jesus and in his Resurrection. As he died and was buried, we symbolically go down into the water of baptism with him. And as he rose from the dead, we symbolically come away from the water in his risen power, made new. For this reason baptism is often known as the Easter Sacrament and has special meaning when it occurs at Easter after a period of preparation through the season of Lent.
When children are baptized, their parents and carefully selected godparents undertake certain responsibilities. For this reason parents and godparents are usually helped and assisted beforehand in understanding their responsibilities. The local Church also has an important role in helping them to nurture their child in the new life which Baptism brings.


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Baptism Confirmation Contact Us Downloads Events Eucharist Funerals Galleries News Pastoral Care Partners Prayer Services Weddings	Baptism From the earliest days of the Christian Church, Baptism has been the way in which people become Christians and members of the Church. The Gospels tell us that Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and that Jesus taught his disciples to go out into the world and baptize. Jesus teaches his people that all who would enter his kingdom must be born again of water and the Spirit. Baptism is the sign and seal of this new birth. Christian Initiation has three important elements – baptism itself, confirmation, and becoming part of the worshipping family of the Church, in which Christians regularly receive Holy Communion, the body and blood of Christ. Those who are baptized as children must be nurtured in faith, sustained by prayer, and welcomed into the worshipping and serving life of the Church and later be brought to Confirmation (by the Bishop). But when individuals are able to answer for themselves their entry into the family of the Church should be through one act of initiation where Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion), together express the: turning away from darkness and sin, the turning to Christ, the washing or immersion in the waters of baptism, the laying on of hands by the Bishop the participation in the Eucharistic family of the Church. Baptism should normally take place in church during the Eucharist. Water is poured over the head of the candidate for baptism three times in the Name of the God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Where it is possible, those who are older may be baptized by submersion or immersion in a body of water such as a baptismal pool. The act of baptism signifies our participation in the death of Jesus and in his Resurrection. As he died and was buried, we symbolically go down into the water of baptism with him. And as he rose from the dead, we symbolically come away from the water in his risen power, made new. For this reason baptism is often known as the Easter Sacrament and has special meaning when it occurs at Easter after a period of preparation through the season of Lent. When children are baptized, their parents and carefully selected godparents undertake certain responsibilities. For this reason parents and godparents are usually helped and assisted beforehand in understanding their responsibilities. The local Church also has an important role in helping them to nurture their child in the new life which Baptism brings.