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 register your interest and we will invite you to our next Baptism meeting.
Attend the Baptism preparation meeting.
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 Baptism preparation meeting; the family, and if possible the Godparents, will be invited. This is an opportunity to discuss the details of the service and the promises being made, plus have any questions answered.
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 2nd Sunday
Holy Trinity Church, Queenborough at 11am on the 4th Sunday
Minster Abbey at 11am on the 1st Sunday
NB. Baptisms will not be held during January, December, Easter or Remembrance Sunday except by prior arrangement.
Whilst there is no requirement for parents to be baptised, Canon Law (B23) requires Godparents to be baptised as a minimum. Where parents nominate an un-baptised person as Godparent, they will need to be baptised either before, or on the same day as, the child.
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 request a Thanksgiving for their child in preference to a baptism, such service will be conducted in line with this policy.