DD wants to be christened

[Halo2024]

I may sound a little silly and these are probably very simply questions for those who are religious, but I’d like some advice about christening DD.

I’m non-religious, however DD, who is nearly 7, learns about religion at school (learning about the meaning of easter and Christmas). After winning an award at school for her knowledge around Easter and the meaning, we spoke a little bit about visiting church and what a christening is (which I probably didn’t explain v well). Btw, she often brings home library books with biblical stories and often reads an Easter story her Nan bought her, she’s told me for around a year that she loves Jesus, so I think perhaps I could do more to help her explore religion for herself.

She’d like to get christened, but I don’t really know where to start. Do I have to be christened too? Do we have to attend weekly church sessions? How does it all work and what are my first steps? I’m also conscious I’m an atheist, so I’m not sure how that’s seen in the eyes of the church.

My apologies, I’ve probably used a lot of the wrong terminology and thank you in advance for any help.

Changing denominations doesn't matter - a baptism is recognised across all the denominations. I was baptised as a baby in the roman Catholic church, I'm now an Anglican - that baptism is still "valid".

Just wondering why you would avoid an evangelical church. I currently attend an evangelical church (but I'm not offended at all), although my background is c of e and I wouldn't recommend our church for a 7 year old (although some members of our church would), although there are some evangelical churches that have more of a thriving Sunday school that I absolutely would recommend. I was mainly curious as some members of our church (not me I would hasten to add) have some strong opinions of the Catholic church and I was just wondering if some Catholics felt the same way about the evangelical church. I hope that's ok to ask.

Most people believe in one baptism. I know a few who have been baptised several times in several different denominations. More frequently I have seen people who have had infant baptism and then a full immersion baptism as an adult.

Sorry, but I think many protestants think the same of evangelical churches.

@Gwenhwyfar really? Well that's fair enough although I'm still wondering why.

My friend's son went through a phase of saying he "loved Jesus". He "loves Arsenal" now. There's a chance she's going to be a religious person, but I suspect a higher chance of her finding something else to take Jesus's place soon enough.

unless things have changed massively in the last 50 years, this is wrong
Baptists practice adult baptism, a 7 yo is not an adult

They practice believers baptism rather than adult baptism - if a child is deemed to have made a decision of their own free will and has a good understanding of what being baptised means, they can be baptised. An infant doesn't have that capacity but some children from seven or eight upwards could. It depends on the individual child.

I'd look on church websites for one that has someone fulfilling the role of Children's and/or Familes Minister - then contact them.

There are problems in this day and age with "just dropping her off" as a named adult would need to be supervising her, for safeguarding. But I think a minister as above would have some kind of solution to that.

She doesn't have any school friends who attend church does she?

Thank you @NannyR, I couldn't have put it better!

Ha this made me laugh because as I said near the top of the thread I went to church on my own from about the age of 8 and I recommended the OP taking her daughter to a family service but if I'm honest I absolutely despised all children's activities and never joined the Sunday school or (later) youth group. I only ever went to BCP (Book of Common Prayer Services) -- i.e. very old-fashioned ones and I was always the only child. I found them intensely moving and profound but I was an odd little girl for sure! I still think it's sensible to start with a family service as they can be really well done but it's true that there are some children out there who are drawn by the solemnity or the music or whatever and would resent being shipped off to colour in pictures and act out Bible scenes.

We live abroad and I have been to lots of different churches both alone and sometimes with the children. The best children's provision I've seen by far was at an evangelical church. It's not really my thing but one of my children also really enjoyed the style of music (mostly "worship songs" rather than hymns) and the community was exceptionally welcoming.

@consideringachange haha we must both have been very solemn children at times. I also loved the BCP service- at our church it was just called the 8 o Clock service, full of silence and readings from King James. Even then I objected a bit to the standing and sitting as I preferred to contemplate and pray undisturbed