In the New Testament, we read how people came to faith and were baptised to symbolise their new life as followers of Christ. All four gospels tell us Jesus himself was baptised in the River Jordan and the spirit of God descended on him like a dove and a voice from heaven said; “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Before fonts were used for baptisms the person would be dipped into a river, going under the water completely before being raised out of the river. In this way, baptism mirrored the death and resurrection of Christ. In modern-day baptism, a person is plunged into water, or infants have water sprinkled on their heads as a symbolic act which means that the person being baptised has become part of the family of God, adopted into the family of Christ.
You can be baptised as an infant or an adult. Many parents choose to baptise their children in a service that is sometimes called ‘Christening’ to celebrate the new life of their child and commit to raising the child in the Christian faith.
Thanksgiving for Children
Some parents may not wish to make this commitment at this stage in a child’s life and many churches also offer a service of thanksgiving following the birth of a child, rather than baptism.
You can find out more about a Thanksgiving Service here
If you are interested in being baptised, or having children baptised, please contact your local vicar who can discuss this with you. Find your local parish church here.