can you have an infant baptism WITHOUT godparents

[reallytired]

I would like to get my daughter baptised in the church of England. My son's god parents have shown little interest in him, yet alone in his spirtual development. I don't want to ask people to major promises that they have no intention of keeping.

My husband is not baptised so could not be a godparent. He is an excellent father and does believe and does go to church. He just doesn't feel ready for confirmation.

I suppose I need to talk to the priest.

[MsHighwater]

Don't know about CofE but you can in the Church of Scotland. We did when dd was baptised 5 years ago.

Surely your dh could not be godparent to his own kids?

[suzikettles]

Church of Scotland doesn't really "do" godparents though - not in an official capacity anyway although often the godmother carries the baby into the church or similar.

Sorry, no idea about the CoE.

[LittleCheesyPineappleOne]

We're struggling to find godparents for DC3 as all of our friends and family have been 'used up' as godparents to DC1&2. We hardly know anyone who has been baptised, tbh. It doesn't bother me as I'm an atheist, but DH is a Christian and it's important to him and his family that the babies are/were baptised.

[lucysmum]

yes I am christened with no godparents. My parents took that role. According to the vicar who baptised DD parents are 'automatically' god parents, in the eyes of god, others are just extras.

[reallytired]

My dh is not baptised. He does believe, but doesn't feel ready for adult baptism and confirmation classes.

I find it unfair that someone who never goes to church and was baptised as an infant can be a godparent, but my husband can't.

I just can't stand the in fighting and pettiness of choosing godparents. I would far rather offend everyone and have NO godparents.

[ohnoherewego]

You need godparents in the CofE but not in non conformists churches e.g methodists. However there is nothing to stop you and Dh being dc's godparents. My DH did it for DD

[wonderinglonely]

Our DCs were baptised in the Anglican church (which we attend). We didn't have godparents as it may have caused problems if we chose friends rather than family. Just DH and I stood as sponsors. Clergy didn't seem to mind at all. As we didn't have godparents we didn't get into 'qualifications' for who could be chosen i.e. that they would have to be baptised/confirmed etc, but I had always assumed this wouldn't be a problem, especially as we would have only asked believers. Had we chosen godparents, none of the likely candidates would have been confirmed as not Anglican. Most would have been baptised either as infants or adults, but couldn't say for sure. We attend a Church of Ireland Church. Can only relate my own experience of course. Maybe each minister has their own view.