Christenings
A Christening, also known as Baptism, is the start of an amazing journey of faith for your child and a special day for all your family and friends to celebrate. In Baptism, we welcome a new person into the family of the Church. If you are thinking of having your child Baptised, then we would love to hear from you!
Christenings in our church buildings take place in our Sunday morning worship services. Your family and friends will receive a warm welcome, and the service will be accessible so that everyone can understand what is going on and join in. We love to welcome children, and often invite them to join in with the service, as well as provide fun activities for them to get involved with during church.
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First step
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The first step in planning a Christening is booking on to one of our Explore Christening mornings where you'll hear what Christening/Baptism is about and get to meet members of the Pathway Church family.
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Click here to see the planned Sunday services with spaces for Christenings in 2024.
You might be interested in the list of frequently asked questions below, but if you would like any more information or if you have any more questions, then please email us on hello@pathway-church.co.uk
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Frequently asked questions
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What if I've not been Christened, can I still have my child Christened?
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Yes. You do not need to be Christened yourself to have your child Christened. It is essential however that all Godparents have themselves been Christened (Baptised).
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How much does it cost?
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A baptism service is absolutely free! Although if you would like to make a donation to help us look after our lovely historic buildings then that would be very much appreciated.
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What about Godparents?
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Godparents are really important and choosing who you're going to ask to be Godparent is a big decision. Becoming a Godparent is a life-long commitment and on the day of your child's Christening they are going to make some big promises on your child's behalf. We ask you to bear in mind that Godparents are not just there to look after the child should something happen to you. The role of a Godparent is to pray for your child, to model and encourage them to develop Christian values and to help them learn more about the Christian faith as they grow up.
You will need to choose:
• Godparents who have been Christened (Baptized) themselves
• At least three Godparents (you can have more!)
• At least one male and one female Godparent
Remember that Parents can also be Godparents. If there are any problems choosing the Godparents, the Clergy are happy to talk it through with you.
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Can we Photograph and Video the Service?
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We don't allow photos or videos during the service for safeguarding reasons. This is because several family groups might be present at each christening. However, you are welcome to pose at the font, or at the front, and take photos of your family group after the service. The clergy will be glad to pose for photos with you if you ask.
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Are there Toilets in the Church?
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Unfortunately, St Mary’s, St Andrew’s and St Thomas’ Churches do not have a toilet in their buildings. Holy Trinity Church does have a toilet which visitors to the church are welcome to use.
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What if my children make a noise?
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Please don’t worry! We welcome children and with them we welcome some noise. Most of our churches have a Children’s Area to engage them during the service.
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