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Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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Original poster

christenings!

9 replies

JackTheNipper · 15/11/2011 19:32

I would like DS to be christened CofE he's 3 now we have delayed until now because he had some pretty bad health problems when he was born.
I however am not christened, but DH is, my question is,
A: Do I need to be christened in order for DS to be?
B: If I were to be christened, what is the proceedure? I'm obviously too old to have god parents, so what would happen, would I be dunked in a bath type thing? I'm really fretting over it.

OP posts:

GetOffTheCat · 15/11/2011 20:26

Have you thought about a joint Christening? There'll be no 'dunking' for either of you! Talk to your vicar about options. I'm sure they'll be far more flexible than you think.

countydurhamlass · 15/11/2011 20:33

i was "christened" (not sure if that is the right word) at the methodist church, however, i went to a C of E school when i was little which was linked to the town C of E church. I think dh is C of E but not sure. anyway i always said i wanted to get married in the church -which i did, i then went on to have ds which i had christened there to. from what i can remember it didnt matter what me and dh were and we didnt have to be regular church goers. i think it was just a case of taking ds's details and giving us a date when he was next able to do it,

the best thing to do is telephone your vicar and tell him you want your ds to be christened at his church and take it from there

Original poster

JackTheNipper · 15/11/2011 20:57

thank you, a joint one would be good, I wasnt keen on the dunking idea

OP posts:

EdithWeston · 15/11/2011 21:02

I think it's only Baptists who go in for full dunking.

Most others have a gentle sprinkle (unless you have a priest with a wicked sense of humour).

purpleturtletoise · 15/11/2011 21:07

Actually, many C of E churches will baptise by immersion, if that's what you want. If not, you can be 'sprinkled', much as a baby would be. (Although you'd have to lean over the font - would be a bit much to expect the vicar to hold you over it )

MindtheGappp · 16/11/2011 17:08

Do you go to church, Jack?

Are you willing to make a public declaration of your faith and say that you are going to follow the ways of the spirit rather than the world?

Your church should participate in confirmations every year or two. You simply join one of the confirmation classes. Baptisms can be done as part of the confirmation service, or can be done with just church family a week or two before. It is typical in confirmation to have sponsors rather than godparents.

If your church, or the church the confirmation is at, has a baptism pool, you can opt for full immersion baptism, or pouring from the font.

MaryBS · 16/11/2011 17:11

You don't need to be baptised in order for your baby to be. What is usual for adults is that they are baptised and confirmed at the same time, usually after a period of instruction, at least in the C of E. First step would be to speak to someone. Are we talking C of E here? I've done both baptism and confirmation preparation for people before now...

Original poster

JackTheNipper · 16/11/2011 19:03

Yes I'm wanting Cof E, who could I have for my sponsors most of my family live 200+ miles away so I only really have friends around me.
My mum was catholic but really resented the upbringing she had around the church and didn't want me to be baptised as she is not religious in her adult life.
I am spiritual but not having been around churches growing up I don't know the 'done thing' \i would like to be more involved but I work every sunday so going to services are really hard.
DH was a keen church goer in his past but has lapsed (if thats the right word?)

OP posts:

MindtheGappp · 16/11/2011 19:22

I think it is quite early to start thinking about your own confirmation. You should start going to church and become involved in the life of the church, particularly prayer and bible study.

At some point, the vicar will announce a confirmation service coming up (often about 6 months into the future), and it is then that you can start planning.

You can have the leader of your confirmation group be the sponsor. That's what I did (I didn't know anything about sponsors or choosing my own), and that's what my children have done. The sponsor supports you through prayer and fellowship, but his formal role on the confimation evening is to present you to the bishop.

If you don't want to be confirmed at this time, you can have just the baptism portion of the service.

Or you can opt for baptism during a normal Sunday service, but this is far more focussed on you and your Christian journey. If you want to be one of the crowd, it's easier via the confirmation route.

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