BAPTISM in the Church of England

When you contact us, we will arrange a time to meet with you in your home. This will be the occasion to discuss the meaning of baptism for your child and to answer any specific questions that you may wish to have answered. In the meantime, below is a series of questions that people often wish to have answered first of all. Greater detail about the meaning of baptism is also available at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents

When are services held in this parish?

In this parish, baptisms are conducted as part of the main service on the 1st Sunday in every month at 10.30 am .

How long is the service?

About one hour. The Baptism element is about 10 minutes.

Why is it held in the main service?

The Church is the community of those who seek follow Jesus Christ. Baptism is the welcoming of a person into that fellowship. The service includes a formal welcoming of the new member, and this can only be sincerely done when the "body" of Christ's people is present.

How many godparents should we have?

You don't have to have any! Parents can even double as godparents. The tradition is however to have two of the same gender as the child, and one other. If you are going to have godparents, it is far more important to get the right people for whom the practice is meaningful, and who will be a genuine Christian influence upon your child as he or she grows up.

Is there a rehearsal?

Yes - by arrangement with the Vicar - but usually on the Friday evening before the day itself. There is no need for godparents to be present unless they easily can be.

Where should we sit?

Anywhere in the church. The Baptism is part of the service on these occasions; and parents and godparents (and your child!) will be asked to come to the font at the appropriate time.

Other children are coming. What should we do with them?

On first Sundays, the sermon is a lighter "all age" type of address, and will (we hope) be of some interest to the children. It is a good idea however to let them bring a book or (non-noisy) toy if this will help them. Please don't worry too much. If a child does cry or start making excessive noise, just go out into the porch with them. You can see into the church from there. After the baptism there will also be an opportunity for children (with or without a parent) to go into the church hall with other members of our Sunday School. This is a family occasion - in every sense - so we want to welcome young ones.

What about Sunday School?

We have a small Sunday School which meets every Sunday morning (other than 3rd Sundays in the month) during the main morning service. They meet in the Church Rooms at the back of the church complex at 10.30 a.m. In its place on 3rd Sundays, there is no Sunday School at 10.30 a.m. ; but - instead - a short (25 - 30 minute) service in church takes place at 9.30 a.m. which is specifically for young children and their families. On 1st Sundays the children begin and end the service in church; rejoining us (and hopefully their parents) at Communion time. Children and parents are welcome at any age! Please say if you would like to be put in touch with another parent who comes.

Does it cost anything?

No. In the service itself however, there is an opportunity to give (along with the rest of the congregation) to the costs of maintaining the church and its full time ministry in the parish (over £2000 per week in 2007). This includes our contribution to the maintenance of full-time and part-time ministry across the Diocese as a whole. There are envelopes in the pews that encourage people to give under the national GIFT AID scheme. Please use one of these envelopes if you can. This means that the church will be able to recover the Income Tax that you have already paid on that amount.

WEDDINGS in the Church of England

Please contact us if you wish to discuss whether or not we might be able to help you with your wedding plans. In the meantime, below are answers to questions that people often ask. Further useful information is available at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents

Where can I get married?

Everyone lives in a parish and belongs to a parish church. This is the church you should contact for more information about getting married.

I'm not baptised. I don't go to church. Can I still get married in church?

Yes! If you live in the parish of the church you want to marry in.

What if I want to be married in a different church?

If you are a regular worshipper in that church, it is usually possible to be married there. Just speak to your minister.

If you are not a regular worshipper, why not start attending? You will normally be expected to attend services for some time before becoming eligible to be married there.

If you have a special connection with the church – after seeing the minister concerned - you can apply for a Special Licence . To find out more, contact The Faculty Office , 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster , London SW1P 3JT; Tel: 020 7222 5381

I heard that you can get married in any church you want to now. Is this true?

In July 2007, the General Synod (the Church of England's governing body) approved steps to widen the wedding regulations; these are expected to come into effect before Autumn 2008. The regulations are designed to make it easier for couples to get married in a church that has special meaning to them.

Provided the church is available, couples can choose to get married in:

The legislation is currently being prepared for parliament's Ecclesiastical Committee before its passage through both Houses of Parliament. After that, if it passes, it will receive Royal Assent.

However at the moment, if you want to get married in a church that is not your parish church you will need to talk to the minister there (see previous question).

If there is a good reason, couples can apply for a Special Licence. To apply or find out more contact The Faculty Office, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT; Tel: 020 7222 5381

I'm divorced. Can I still get married in church?

The Church of England believes that marriage is for life. But it recognises that sadly, some marriages do fail. In exceptional circumstances, the Church accepts that a divorced person may marry again. Speak to your parish priest. He or she will want to talk to you frankly about your past and your hopes for the future. Even if it is not possible to do your wedding, they may be willing to offer you service of prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony.

I'm Church of England and he's a Catholic. Does that matter?

People of all denominations have a right to be married in their parish church (provided they have not been married before). So it doesn't matter from the Church of England's perspective.

How much will it cost?

The legal fees for a marriage cover the publication of the banns, the marriage service and a certificate of marriage. These fees are fixed centrally and are currently approximately £240. There are other additional fees that are fixed locally (organist, choir, bells etc.). The Vicar will discuss all such matters with you when he meets you. In 2008 – in this parish – the total fees come to £469.

What happens if one of us lives abroad?

Marriage by Common Licence can take place on the basis of one of the couple living in the parish or regularly attending the church without any action being necessary where the other party lives. Your vicar will know how to apply for a Common Licence (see below if it is a particular country). However, because most clergy or churches like to offer marriage preparation, they like to see you both.

What happens if one of us is a foreign national?

If one is a national of a country outside Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the EU or USA : The Church has a responsibility to conduct marriages which will be recognised in the country the bride or groom comes from. This is done for the couple's benefit not just for bureaucracy. Therefore, the Faculty Office strongly recommends that these marriages should be done by Common Licence rather than banns and some dioceses ask the person to obtain from the relevant embassy or consulate a letter saying their marriage will be recognised.

How do I book the church?

Get in touch with your local parish priest.

He or she will probably wish to meet with you in person to discuss your plans.

FUNERALS in the Church of England

A funeral marks the close of a human life on earth. It is the opportunity for friends and family to express their grief, to give thanks for the life which has now completed its journey in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping.

A funeral service can be very short and quiet with only a few members of the family present or a fuller occasion with music, hymns and a packed church.

Whether in a parish church or a crematorium chapel, such an occasion can include hymns, favourite prayers and readings, and an address. Whatever the pattern of service, the words and actions will all speak of a loving God and the preciousness to Him of every human being.

When a death occurs, the first contact will usually be with a Funeral Director. They will ask you if you would like a representative of the Church to take a service. This could be in a parish church, in a crematorium chapel or at a graveside. Unless you have someone else in mind to conduct the service, they will usually contact the Vicar of the parish in question. He or she will then contact you to arrange to meet in your home to discuss the detail of a service and to draft a printed order of service if that is required. The Church's fees will be included as a separate item through your arrangement with the Funeral Director.

Further useful information is available at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents