Christening Church Donation

[Gracie300]

My husband and I are disagreeing about the donation amount to give to the church for our daughters christening tomorrow. Anyone care to share the amount they gave?

We were told what donation we had to give, so it wasn’t a donation at all, it’s a fee! We were sent an email saying £50, then bizarrely on a further email it’d increased to £60? There were 10 children being christened over a few weeks. We had 2 children christened together so it actually cost us double, they were very insistent it was per child. We “donated” £50 per child, I felt they were being cheeky to put the price up after the initial information had been sent. We were only doing it to get our children a school place so I guess £50 to bump you up the list is a cheap bribe .

I never said £10 - I think £100, husband thinks £50. Might meet him halfway!

It's a donation, so you give according to what you can afford and what it is worth to you, as generously as you reasonably can. If you can give £100, do that. If that's not possible, give less. If you'd barely notice the £100, give more.

£50
Catholic church, I was a regular attender.

Dc1 and 2 had a special service on their own out of usual Mass time. None of our congregation were regulars at those churches.

Dc 2 and 3 separate service straight after Sunday Mass. Most of our congregation were regular attendees at the church. Priest said not to give anything.

Sorry all I misread the post. I didn't realise it was for your daughters christening - I thought you were attending someone else's christening. My bad.

Definitely at least £50 if it's for your own daughter.

In the Church of Scotland we just do christenings during the regular service. I certainly wasn’t asked for a donation when my DDs were baptised - it was just the usual weekly collection in the plate. The church benefits from the extra guests you bring along to swell the congregation, all of whom will be putting money in the collection.
That said, churches are always struggling for finance, and any donation you can make will be gratefully received. Ancient listed buildings are highly expensive to maintain.

We “donated” £50 per child, I felt they were being cheeky to put the price up after the initial information had been sent. We were only doing it to get our children a school place so I guess £50 to bump you up the list is a cheap bribe

I genuinely don’t know where to begin with this and I can’t tell if you’re being serious. The church is not the cheeky party in this situation.

I’d give £100.

In this particular instance I think you should meet somewhere in the middle and give £70 - £80.

£50 is more than generous.
Hope you have a good day.

I would say £50 too.

I work for the Church of England and I'd say meeting half way sounds good, £75.
Especially if you donate regularly already.

Thanks all

I remember needing to pay £100 for a church organist for a similar ceremony (that was a fee more than a donation) and we gave the same amount to the church itself.

Extras like an organist would have a fee but CofE shouldn’t charge for a baptism (not sure about RC)

C of E don't charge. Although some sort of donation is nice. Even if the christening is part of a normal service, they usually last longer and require slightly more preparation. If Communion is included there is also the cost of more bread and wine.

I'd go between £50 and £100 depending on your finances.

It’s not part of the normal mass (just after) and only our child getting baptised.We did ask the priest if there was a suggested amount and he said ‘anything’!

So
Catholic
Not regular church attenders

I think it goes to the priests who don't all have much money (does vary)

Not less than £100 and if you don't attend regularly I would say £200.

You will need them on side for schools if you don't attend regularly.

I think we paid £300 nearly 20 years ago.

CofE shouldn’t charge for a baptism (not sure about RC)

RC priests cannot receive direct payment for performing a sacrament so they do not charge any fee. A donation is usual.

The baptism certificate costs on a C Of E church- but they just chick it in if you give a donation and/or are a regular

RC priests cannot receive direct payment for performing a sacrament so they do not charge any fee. A donation is usual.

Hmmm. But they can accept money put into they hands as a little something for you Father?

We gave £60. We had the same argument over £100 vs £50. I put a further £10 in the basket that goes round in the service to make sure my dh didn’t get his way completely.

We donated nothing