Christening in Surrey - anyone recommend a nice church?

[Zebraa]

DP is from Guildford and wants us to have both babies Christened in Surrey. I don't know the area very well and it's down to me to sort it all out.

Unless the rules have been changed, the C of E doesn't let you just pick a church for a baptism - it has to be the parish where you are living, or somewhere where you have family links - that's because baptism is meant to be welcoming your child into the church, and the start of bringing them up in the faith, not just "getting them dunked". So I don't think you'll be able to just choose a nice church and expect them to do it for you.

I wanted him baptised in my local parish church, however, we are going to be moving to Surrey in the New Year which is why we are waiting til we move. We'll be moving to Epsom and his family are from Guildford but can I not find a nice church which is welcoming and then once our children are baptised there, we will continue to go to church there?

I don't like the one close to his family home, it's very unwelcoming.

Oh if you're planning to move and make that your regular church then they may be fine with it, I thought you were just looking to go once for the baptism and then not again . Hopefully some Surrey people will be along soon and point you in the direction of a nice family-friendly one.

I'm actually getting quite stressed about it all now

What kind of church do you like?

St Giles in Ashtead (next door to Epsom) is fairly fantastic.

I want quite a traditional church, but more importantly welcoming.

I got married in st giles church.

St Nicolas in Guildford is lovely and very welcoming (not as pretty as St Giles but less stuffy socially!).

Christ Church in Epsom is a good church IMO. Link here.

I had DD Christened there and it was lovely. There are a couple of carol services on Sunday if you wanted to pop down and get a feel for it.

Both those are stunning aren't they!

Do they have a good Sunday mass service?

I'm down at DP's parents for new year, I'll have to have a look, perhaps meet with the priests.

Thank you ladies.

hi there, hope you don't mind me responding, but as i am a vicar, i thought i could offer a little insight into the rules and regulations about who can get Baptised/Christened where...

in the Church of England the 'rules' for baptism aren't quite the same as for marriage, so it is a little bit more flexible (or not)... depending on the priest/ vicar. Generally, if you live in the parish, all is fine. if you don't live in the parish, but habitually/ regularly attend worship there, then that is also fine. If you live outside the parish but are on the electoral roll, this is also fine, but adding to this last bit, different churches place different conditions on joining the electoral roll, and a typical condition is 6 monthe habitual worship.

having said all this though, it is up to the priest. some churches have an open baptism policy which means thy will baptise anyone who asks, no conditions asked. others want to see real commitment to what you are undertaking on behalf of the child, and may ask you to attend preparation classes.

essentially. Baptism is not a legal thing, so there aren't any set 'rules', but just talk to the clergy, they will be delighted to help.

it is lovely to see that you want to continue worshipping at a church which suits you, and i hope (and pray - tee hee!) that you find the right place for you. All too often, we see people who turn up for the baptism, and then never come back to church again...

hope this is helpful

God Bless

peapoderooni (Rev'd.)