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Most parents prefer to have their child named in a formal setting and this can be either a religious or a civil ceremony. If the former is the choice then the type of ceremony will, of course, depend on the religion. Anglican churches traditionally hold a Christening service. In this ceremony, parents and Godparents promise to raise the child in the Christian faith. Even if the child's parents are not regular churchgoers, a child can still be Christened and the local vicar will be able to provide guidance on this. Sometimes a vicar will require parents to undergo a period of instruction before the Christening, but again, this will depend upon circumstances and the vicar him/herself. Usually, Christenings form part of the regular Sunday service to welcome the child into the community. Often, several Christenings take place in the same service, but in some parishes a private ceremony can be arranged following the Sunday service. Parents and Godparents will be asked to make declarations that they believe in God and will raise the child to follow Jesus. The vicar will make the sign of the cross and then pour water on the child's head to wash away sin. Sometimes a candle will be lit in the church or given to the parents to symbolise the light that has now come into their child's life. Some vicars will allow parents or guests to choose hymns and readings for the service.
The Church of England suggests that at least three Godparents are chosen, two the same sex as the child being Christened. Usually Godparents are relatives or close friends of the parents - people the child will have regular contact with.
Godparents should themselves have been Christened and some vicars also require that they are confirmed. Godparents should be comfortable making the religious promises that are required of them.
In 1999 the Church of England introduced a Thanksgiving or Blessing Service. This is designed for those wanting a religious service to thank God for the child, but are not ready to make the commitment to baptism into the faith. A Christening can always follow at a later date. In these ceremonies Godparents are not chosen, but adults who will have a similar role in the child's life can take part.
Followers of the Catholic faith will arrange for their child to be baptised. A child may only be baptised into the Catholic faith if at least one parent is a Catholic because of the need for the priest to have an expectation that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith. Parents will usually be expected to go to pre-baptism preparation classes if it is their first child to be Christened. To the Catholic Church the baptism makes the child a member of the church. Being washed in holy water represents the washing away of original sin and being re-born into a new life in Christ.
A Christening usually takes place in the local parish church during the main Sunday service so that the child can be welcomed into the church community. However, for those wanting a private ceremony, this can often be arranged with the priest. In the Catholic Church one Godparent is seen as being sufficient and no more than two are permitted. Godparents should themselves have been baptised and usually it is a requirement that they have also been confirmed.
Godparents are expected to instruct the child in matters concerning faith. If the parents wish to have a non-Catholic play a recognised role in their child's life, the non-Catholic may be a 'witness' but not a Godparent.
Some priests will permit parents to choose readings for the service. Parents and Godparents will be asked to make promises and declarations that they believe in God and will raise the child to follow Christ.
At the end of the service a candle may be lit in the church, or given to the parents, to represent the light that has come into their child's life.
However, many parents do not wish to have their child named in a religious service, either because the parents themselves are not religious, or because they do not wish to commit their child to follow any particular religion.
Most local authorities in the United Kingdom now offer a civil naming ceremony as an alternative to a religious service. These can be arranged through local Register Offices. The person who officiates at such a ceremony is usually one of the registrars who would conduct a civil wedding. The service contains many elements that are similar the Christenings, with the official naming of the child and selected adults making promises, but there is no religious content. There is scope to personalise the service with readings and music and the promises made to the child can be customised.
Grandparents are often included in the ceremony too and the service can easily be adapted to welcome children from different marriages, or for adopted children. To have a registrar officiate at the service, the ceremony needs to be held in premises approved by the local authority for civil ceremonies. Some people, however, prefer the informality of having a naming ceremony at home. There are a number of commercial businesses who offer alternative naming ceremonies and the British Humanist Association offers a ceremony that can be customised and taken by the child's family of friends, or a British Humanist Association accredited naming celebrant. Humanists believe that man is the highest authority and that mankind has advanced without God. British Humanist Association naming ceremonies usually last about twenty minutes. It is also possible to purchase just the script for a naming ceremony, which you can then adapt to your own requirements. Although naming ceremonies such as those organised by the British Humanist Association or commercial businesses are not legally binding in any way, you may receive a record of the ceremony as a memento.
More information can be found at this website.
A great keepsake which records the date of the ceremony and of course the baby's name, together with any other wording, can be found at our website where we sell personalised christening plate.
