Baptism

Baptism (Christening) is the special service where we welcome someone into the church family. Both adults and children can be baptised. Adults will make their own promises to God, parents of children who are not old enough to make those promises make the promises on their child's behalf. Baptism is an important event, so preparation is important and a minister will meet with you to explain the service and its implications.

 What follows is intended both as general introduction to the Church of England’s understanding of Christian initiation and as a guide to the services of Baptism, Confirmation and Affirmation of Baptismal Faith

Baptism

• You may request your parish priest to baptise your children into membership of the Christian Church and he/she will be very pleased to do so.
• You will be required to make a commitment to bring them up in the Christian way, and to state that you believe in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Everything will be explained to you simply and clearly, and all the help you need will be given before, during and after the Baptism Service.
• You may choose either the main Sunday Service at 10.00am (which lasts about 75 minutes) or a special Baptism Service normally at 12.00noon (which lasts about 20 minutes).
• Those who are baptised at a special 12.00 noon service will be invited to attend one of our Family Parade Services, where they will receive their Baptism Certificate and be formally welcomed by the regular congregation. Children and adults can be baptised at any age.
• Being a Christian is no soft option in this day and age, but with the help of the worship, taching and fellowship provided by the local Church it can be done!
  

Thinking about a Church Wedding

congratulations, we wish you well as you begin your journey into married life together. It's wonderful that you want to make your marriage vows before God.

A church wedding won't just give you some lovely photographs to remember the day by, as Christians, we believe that God is Love... so it is only right that you should want Him to be at the very heart of your special day!

 
We welcome enquiries for weddings on Tuesday evenings between 7pm-8pm

Marriage

• You may request your parish priest to marry you in Church, and he/she will be very pleased to do so.
• Anybody may be married in Church providing that they are not
  1. currently married to somebody else (bigamy)
  2. under 16 years old (the age of consent)
  3. too closely related (inbreeding)
• Those who have been divorced may be remarried in Church under certain circumstances - it is always worth asking.
• Being married is a commitment to live together as a new family in the community for as long as you live. You promise to love, comfort, honour and protect your partner and to forsake all others.
• Over 60% of people stay married to the same person for ever.
  

Funeral

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.

• You may request your parish priest to officiate at the funeral of a loved one and he/she will be pleased to do so.
• The Funeral Service may take place either in Church (this is recommended in terms of space if you expect more than 40 mourners to attend) or in the Chapel of the Cemetery or Crematorium.
• You may choose either cremation, or burial in a cemetery. St Paul's Churchyard is full, burial in a new grave is not possible.
• Cremated Remains may be buried in the Garden of Remembrance at St Paul's.
• The parish priest will visit you before the funeral to get to know you a little, to gather details of your loved one's life and achievements, and to discover what hymns, music or readings you would like in the service. He/she may also visit you afterwards to make sure you are OK.

And Finally . . .

• Apart from these services associated with the "rites of passage" (birth, marriage and death), the main reason for the Church's existence is to maintain regular worship of Almighty God, especially on Sunday, the Lord's Day.
• We also provide Christian teaching, training and activities especially for children and young people.
• Many useful community activities such as Playgroups, Mums & Toddlers Clubs, Childrens Holiday Clubs and Guides and Scouts etc. are traditionally provided by the Church.
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For getting to the vicar or curate: see the contact details.