Christening contribution to vicar?

[kenandbarbie]

We had our baby christened. The vicar sent a generic letter with advised contributions for Church restoration fund - individuals £75, couple £100, family £250. So I've paid £250. Do you think I need to make a separate contribution for the christening?

No.

Baptism is a sacrament and you shouldn’t pay for it.

There's no charge for baptism but it's customary to make a donation especially if it was a special service (as opposed to within the existing Sunday service) typically £50-100 is given by the child's family but it is down to if they can afford it (we've had a lot more and nothing at all).

Hmmm. Since he sent out the letter straight after the christening I'm a bit confused! I feel like it's a lot to pay another £50/£100 on top of what we've already contributed. But that was for the church restoration not the christening,

It was in the existing service btw.

So if it was a generic letter is it not that it's just been sent to everyone they have contact details for and it just happens to be soon after your child's Christening?

Sounds like it's just asking everyone if they can contribute to do so, not targeting you because of the Christening or suggesting you specifically should contribute more.

Honestly I would suggest you give what you can and what you feel comfortable with. Given that you've received a letter asking for contributions to the restoration I assume you're regular church attendees therefore I don't think you should feel compelled to give anything really for the christening. You could always send a larger contribution in a few months perhaps even making the point you didn't want it to be that you were "paying" for the christening but that it is in recognition of it.

Personally it would grate with me to pay for the service, okay if someone is just doing it because of family custom and they wouldn't usually attend.