Christenings (Baptisms)

The Church in Wales believes that children are a precious gift from God. Your child is special, and we hope that their christening, or baptism as it’s sometimes called, will prove to be the start of an amazing journey with him.

You can be christened (or baptised) either as a child or as an adult. Jesus himself was baptised in the River Jordan, and many adults who are christened/baptised do so as an opportunity to follow in his footsteps and publicly declare their Christian faith.

Babies and very young children are too young to make this commitment for themselves, so parents or guardians, along with their godparents, make that declaration of commitment to the Christian faith for them.

Parents, guardians and godparents who bring children to be christened are themselves asked to commit to sharing that special journey of faith with them. They will be asked to commit to pray for their child, and to help them learn more about Jesus and the Christian faith. They will also commit to help them navigate their way through life against a backdrop of faith, hope, and love, and to help them become part of the wider church family.

Christenings sometimes take place in the context of one of the church’s regular services, but some are held at a separate time where just your family and friends are present. It is often possible to include your choice of prayers, readings and music to make it feel even more special and unique. Your local vicar will be happy to talk through all of this with you prior to the special day itself.

Parenting children can bring us inexpressible joy, but sometimes we acknowledge it can also bring unique challenges too. Many of our churches run parenting classes where you can find support, help and advice, plus share stories and experiences with other parents.