Church of
England

Baptisms at St Giles

Welcome to St Giles Bramhope 

Having children can be a wonderful experience and one that causes us to reflect on what we consider to be important in life. We all want the best for our children and bringing them to church is one way that we can express such hopes.

Those who bring children for Baptism (or Christening as it is sometimes called) are expressing a desire to bring them up within the life of the Church, so that they will benefit from the positive values, accepting friendships and spiritual resources, that accompany faith in Jesus Christ.

Some parents do not feel ready to make the promises required by the Baptism service, but still want to mark the birth of their child in a special way. In this case, it is better to come for a Thanksgiving service, where we simply express gratitude for our children and pray for God’s blessing on them.

You can choose whichever option you are comfortable with; many parents have a thanksgiving as a special service in the weeks before the Baptism just for themselves and their child. We seek to help you get the best out of this special time and so with that in mind we have developed the following way of doing things. 

1. Make Contact

Before making any other arrangements, please have a word with Janice, our vicar, in order to express your interest in bringing your child for a service of Baptism or Thanksgiving. Dates may be discussed at this stage, but cannot be finalised.

2. Come to Church

We ask you to start attending church as a way of preparing for your child’s special day. It will help you get a ‘feel’ for what St Giles is all about and to reflect on your own beliefs and values. We meet at 10.00 a.m. each Sunday. We have both formal and informal services. Choose the one that appeals to you and your family. We have Sunday School and other groups for children, running during the services - though you are welcome to keep your children with you, if you prefer. After every 10.00 am service there are refreshments and an opportunity to meet other people who worship at St Giles.

3. Preparation
You will be visited by the vicar who will discuss any questions you may have about Baptism and the Christian faith. It is very informal and an opportunity for us to get to know each other before the actual service.

We have a team of Baptism visitors and one of them will make contact with you before the Baptism. They will visit you at home to welcome you and your family to St Giles.

4. Fixing the Date

Baptisms and Thanksgivings usually take place at 12.00pm on a Sunday. We don’t keep to a particular Sunday for Baptisms, but the date is subject to the availability of the church and of course the vicar!

5. Home Visit

This usually happens during the week leading up to the service. It will help you to get familiar with what will happen in the service, so that you can really enjoy the day without having to think about what comes next. Godparents are welcome to come to this if they wish, though there is no requirement for them to do so.

6. The Service

You should try to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the service. Then relax and enjoy the experience! We usually sing a couple of well-known hymns and the service lasts about 30 minutes. 

7. Church Welcome

Because most church members are not present at your service, you are asked to come to the next all.together service at St. Giles, where you and your child will be ‘officially’ welcomed into the congregation.

8. Ongoing Involvement

We hope that afterwards you will continue to attend Sunday worship and other church events. We are a very family-friendly church and becoming involved will help you to develop your own faith and to nurture your children in theirs.

9. Annual Baptism Party

Once a year St Giles Mothers' Union invite all our Baptism/Thanksgiving families to a celebration in the church hall. There’s a party and also a short informal service.

OTHER  ACTIVITIES

On the second Sunday of each month there is a lively all-age service called all.together. On the other Sundays there are activities for older children, while the adults meet in church.

Occasional get.togethers — for pre school children and their carers. This is an opportunity to get to know other families.

Contact: Janice Smith 0113 203 7523

We very much hope that you will take this opportunity to explore the Christian faith a little deeper and we would love to help you in this process. We look forward to hearing from you.

Whom do I contact? 

In the first instance please contact the vicar, Janice Smith on 0113 203 7523.

Diocese of
Ripon & Leeds