Baptism, Confirmation & First Communion

Baptism (Christening) is how a person becomes a member of the Church, a Christian believer. When a baby or young child is christened, this is usually a very special event for the baby, for the family, and for God and the Church. At Little St Mary's, children are normally baptised during the 10:30 Mass on a Sunday morning, since Baptism involves becoming part of the worshipping community of the Church. By pouring water over the baby's head we show, in an outward sign, that the child has passed through the waters of death with Christ and has come to new birth as a Christian believer. The child is also marked with the sign of the cross and given a lighted candle to indicate the new light of faith.

If you live in the parish (click here to find out) and are intending to bring the child up in the Christian faith, or if you normally worship at Little St Mary's, then you are welcome to have your child christened here. You should contact the Vicar as soon as the baby is born, or shortly before, to discuss the details and to establish a suitable date for the event, before you make arrangements with the Godparents and other family members.

If you are not currently members of the LSM congregation, this does not preclude you committing yourselves to the promises that you must make in baptism, but we hope that you will continue to attend, both in the weeks before and after the baptism, so that the wider family of the Church can help you in your duties as guardians of the growing faith of your little Christian believer, and so that the child can grow up with other Christian children, as part of God's family here.

If you are having your child baptised, you will need to choose some Godparents. Each Godparent must have been baptised (Christened) and, if possible, confirmed, and must be in a position to make the affirmations of faith on behalf of the child. Fr Andrew will check this with you when arranging the service. There is no charge for having children baptised.

At LSM we also welcome adults who are newcomers to the faith. If you were not baptised when you were a child, you will be offered preparation classes before the event. Adults are usually baptised and confirmed by the Bishop, when he comes to visit the parish. Christians who have been baptised before do not need to be baptised just to join this Church, but if you were never confirmed as a child, you will be invited to undertake adult Confirmation classes.

Children who are ready to affirm their own faith are encouraged to prepare for Confirmation in special classes designed for their age group (normally about age 10). At the Confirmation service, the Bishop lays his hands on the head of each candidate, and calls them by name, as servants of Our Lord.

Most children make their First Communion immediately after they have been confirmed. It is also possible to arrange for younger children to be admitted to Holy Communion (from about age 7) after suitable preparation classes, which are arranged by the Vicar with parents of candidates deemed ready for this.

First Communion and Confirmation are important rites of passage in a Christian's life of discipleship. If you would like to find out about making this kind of commitment, you will need to raise it with Fr Andrew or Fr Mark or one of the other clergy.