Baptisms at St. Luke's

St Luke's is delighted to welcome everyone wishing to join the worldwide church by being baptised.

Eligibility

Baptism at St Luke's is available to people who live in the parish (click for parish map) or who are on the St Luke's Electoral Roll and attend the church regularly. Residents of other parishes are normally baptised in their own parish church. We ask all families who are not already regular members of the congregation to attend the 10.00am Parish Communion for at least one Sunday a month for six months before the date of the baptism and of course very much hope that they will continue to attend afterwards.

Timing

Baptisms are usually held on the first Sunday of the month at 12.15pm. Sometimes additional baptism services are arranged on another Sunday if there is sufficient demand. Parents please arrange a date by phoning the Parish Office (in St Luke's Community Hall next to the church at 194 Ramsden Road) on 020 8772 0463. Your date is confirmed when you complete and return a Baptism Application form. These forms are available from the back of the church (you can collect this at the 10am Sunday Parish Communion Service) or from the Parish Office. Many children are baptised at St Luke's each year, so please note there could be a wait of some months before there is an available Baptism date - so do try to book early.

Preparation

We also ask you to collect a booklet called 'Your Baby's Baptism in the Church of England' when you take a Baptism application form. Please read this. You will be contacted to arrange a visit to your home during which the meaning of baptism and the promises made on the child's behalf are discussed. Then within a couple of weeks prior to the baptism date there is a further meeting for all the parents of the children who are to be baptised on that day, and godparents if possible, so that the service can be explained and any questions answered.

Godparents

Because of the promises they will be making, it is preferable that godparents have themselves been baptised. Usually, but not always, there are three godparents (two godmothers and one godfather for a girl and vice versa for a boy).

Adult Baptism

In the normal course of events, adult Baptism is linked with the individual's Confirmation. Please contact the Vicar on 020 8673 6506 to discuss this.

Fees

There is no charge for being baptised at St Luke's. However there will be a plate at the back of the church after the service, and gift-aid envelopes are given out if people would like to contribute to the costs of the church. We are of course enormously grateful for any donations that people might wish to make.

If you wish to have your child baptised here, we much look forward to meeting and welcoming you.

 

20/11/2008