Many people find that when a child is born, or at some point in the course of their lifetime, they want to come to a church to thank God for the child and to make some promises about how they will bring the child up.

At St Edyth’s, there are two sorts of service that can meet this need. The first is a Thanksgiving service. The second is a Baptism service (this is also known as a Christening – they are the same thing.) There is more information about these if you follow the links on the left.

Before making a decision on which of these options to go for, it is worth taking some time thinking about what you really want for your child. What are your hopes and dreams for them? What do you hope their values will be? It is also worth thinking about what you want to say publicly for and on behalf of your child. The links on the left hand side should help you as you compare what is said at a Thanksgiving and at a Baptism service.

If you are interested in coming to St Edyth’s for a service for your child, then the first step is to come along to one of our Baptism Preparation classes. These are held over two evenings, and the current dates for the next class should be in our Latest News section. We encourage parents to come along, but also to bring the godparents for the child so that you can think through some of these things together.

For further information about Thanksgiving and Baptism services, please contact the vicar, the Rev. David Izzard, on 0117 968 1912 or the church office on 0117 968 6965.