Naming and ceremonies

4. Ceremonies

Given that birth is a rite of passage for parents, grandparents and even siblings of the new arrival, there can be a strong urge to mark this with some kind of formal occasion. There is a variety of options, both traditional and of the DIY variety.

Baptism (or Christening)
In both Anglican and Roman Catholic churches a baptism may be held as a stand-alone ceremony for one or a number of children, or may be incorporated into a morning service. Which type of ceremony is used will depend on usual practice at the local church and the parents' wishes.

Some form of donation is usually expected and if the church offers some form of blessing certificate there may be an extra charge for this.

Church of England
One in four children in the UK are still baptised into the Church of England. (Some priests now favour the older word baptism, over the more modern christening.)

It is a good idea to start planning in reasonably good time if you want your baby baptised while still a baby rather than a toddler. Church schedules can become booked up, so consult the local clergy sooner rather than later.Preparation is now usual before a baptism. This may take the form of a one-off meeting to discuss the spiritual implications of the service, or can run to a series of meetings.

The church normally requires at least three godparents: two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex. Parents can also be godparents (who technically speaking should be baptised and confirmed members of the church).If you have mixed feelings about making the full baptismal promises on behalf of your child then consider the possibility of a service of Thanksgiving, which is offered by some churches. The congregation gives thanks for the birth and there is a similar service for use after adoption. This route leaves open the option of baptism at a later date.

Catholic church
Having approached your priest, you will generally be invited to take part in a course of meetings to ensure parents understand fully the implications for their child of having them baptised into the Catholic faith.Canon law proscribes the giving of names "foreign to a Christian mentality". However since 1983 there is no longer a requirement for a saint's name to be used.

It is usual to have one male and one female godparent. Both these people should technically speaking be Catholic, the participation of a non-Catholic being restricted to the role of witness to a Catholic sponsor. In practice it seems that the rules are sometimes bent in this regard. At minimum one godparent is required by the baptism ceremony and that person must be Catholic.

©Text 2002 Kate Calvert; Listings ©2002 Kate Calvert & Harden's Ltd