| The Parish Church of St James |  |
| St. James's Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1DQ (Parish Office 020 8941 6003) | |
| WORSHIP/SERVICES | |
| Section Contents: Services
| Christian Year and other Special Days | Rites
of Passage | Christian Calendar | Worship
| Worship/Services Through the
Years |
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| Rites of Passage Contents: Rites of Passage | Baptism | Confirmation | Marriage | Marriage Readings | Funerals / Interment of Ashes |
Rites of Passage - Baptism
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Baptism is the religious rite which welcomes someone, as a member, into the Christian Church. It can take place as a baby or as an adult. Baptism is the sign that someone belongs to Christ and that is why baptism is sometimes known as christening. A baptism can take place during Parish Communion or as a separate service. Please contact the vicar to discuss Baptism at St. James's. |
Every child
who is going to be baptised at St. James's will be visited first by
a St. James's Parish Visitor who
will explain the service and answer any questions they may have. The
Parish Visitor will also be a friendly face within the church community.
The family will have already met a member of the clergy. For two years after the baptism, the child will receive a card and be invited to a tea party to continue to celebrate their membership of the Church. |
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The
central aspect of a baptism is the use of water in the name of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (The word baptism
means to ‘dunk’ or ‘immerse’ in water.) In the
Anglican and other traditions the water is poured into a font (font
comes from ‘fountain’). The font is a bowl which can be
made of metal, stone, glass, etc. and can be as simple or elaborate
as desired. At St. James's the font
is a large octagonal (eight-sided) stone which is beautifully carved.
When a baptism takes place during the Parish Communion, a smaller font
is used at the front of the church. |
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In baptism we
journey. The service speaks of our separation from all that is wrong
in the world, and our reception into a community which seeks to be centred
on God. We join this community, the Church, through baptism. Once ‘in’
the journey continues. We are to grow and change and then bring others
to know that God is love as we have come to know this. This rite of
passage is literally the beginning of a new life. For those baptised
young, this is at the beginning of their physical life. For older people,
it comes later, but is still the start of something new, whatever their
age. |
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| Godparents | |
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During the
baptism of babies and toddlers, certain promises and declarations of
faith are made by the parents and godparents on behalf of the child.
Godparents play an important role and they should pray regularly for the child, set a good example, take a keen interest in him/her and generally be regarded as a friend. |
It is
customary that there are at least three godparents, of whom at least
two shall be of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex.
Godparents must themselves be baptised. |
| Further Information |
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Contact
the Parish
Office 020 8941 6003 or the The
Vicar 020 8979 2069 |
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Associated pages on this website: The Baptistry |
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Links to other websites: Baptism (REQuest) | Baptism (CofE) |