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Baptisms


Simple steps to arranging a Baptism…

  • Please contact the Parish Office, by telephone on 01795 871500 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to arrange to meet our Priest in Charge at your chosen church after a Sunday Service. We will discuss provisional  baptism dates and hand you a Baptism pack.

  • Carefully read through the information, paying particular attention to the  dates and times of Baptisms in your preferred church. Please ensure  ALL adults with parental responsibility agree to the baptism taking place.  This is particularly important in the case of relationship breakdowns. 

  • Return the completed application form to one of our Churchwardens or  Priest in Charge during a Sunday morning service and we will confirm  your provisional Baptism date. 

  • We recommend you attend one of our Sunday morning services a minimum of four times (these do not need to be consecutive), prior to  the baptism taking place. This will help to familiarise yourself with the  worship and get to know our friendly congregation.

Baptisms

We will work with you to ensure arrangements for the Baptism are as straightforward as possible.

Baptism Policy

The churches of West Sheppey Parish:

  • Minster Abbey

  • Holy Trinity Church, Queenborough

  • Holy Trinity Church, Sheerness.

Baptism, often referred to as Christening, is a sacrament, a visible sign of a new beginning, where we thank God for his gift of life and publicly acknowledge his love. In the Church of England, it’s common to baptise children as well as adults. Jesus himself was baptised in the river Jordan and asked his followers to continue this tradition. This note forms the current policy regarding baptisms within the  churches set out above that form West Sheppey Benefice. 

Following initial contact by the family, they will be invited to attend a Church  Service to discuss the baptism with our Priest in Charge and collect a West  Sheppey Churches Baptism Pack.  

The Pack will comprise one each of: 

    1. Baptism Application Form 
    2. Data Protection Consent Form 
    3. Baptism Leaflet 
    4. Thanksgiving Leaflet 
    5. The Role of Godparents Leaflet 
    6. West Sheppey Churches Baptism Policy 

We recommend families attend a minimum of four Sunday services prior to the baptism taking place. This will enable them to familiarise themselves with the congregation, style of worship and ensure they have chosen the right church to begin their journey of faith in. We strongly encourage, where possible, that both parents attend these services alongside Godparents and anyone else who will play  an important role in the child’s upbringing. 

Once the application form is completed it needs to be returned to a churchwarden during a Sunday morning service. While our Priest in Charge will be happy to agree a provisional date at the first meeting, this date is dependent on receipt of a  completed application form. Once this is received we will confirm the provisional  date arranged for the baptism, which will be held in one of our Sunday morning  services as follows:

Once all the relevant details have been discussed and the relevant form completed, the parents will then be contacted to arrange a date for the baptism, which will be held in one of our Sunday morning services as follows:

  • Holy Trinity Church, Sheerness at 9:30am on the 1st or 3rd Sunday 

  • Holy Trinity Church, Queenborough at 11am on the 1st or 3rd Sunday 

  • Minster Abbey at 11am on the 2nd or 4th Sunday

NB. Baptisms will not be held during January, December, Easter or  Remembrance Sunday except by prior arrangement with the Priest in Charge 

West Sheppey PCC acknowledges, in line with Canon Law (B21), there is a  prima-facie expectation those requesting Baptism will attend church services,  and that Baptism will take place in the main Sunday Service.  

Where a family requests a Thanksgiving for their child in preference to a baptism, such a service will be conducted in line with this policy.

Five simple steps to arranging a Baptism