Baptism is a sacrament where God is at work. A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible action in which God engages. The person being baptised makes promises in the way they seek to live and are then washed in the waters of baptism. This marks the beginning of a new relationship with God and the person who has been baptised.

It is natural for parents to give thanks for the birth of their child. This is part of the reason for baptism. Another reason is to ask for the adoption of your child into a special, eternal relationship with the loving God. When parents want to have a baby or young child baptised, we begin by welcoming them for a brief thanksgiving & blessing at one of our Sunday services. Arrangements are then made for the baptism to follow at a time suitable to both the family and the church community.

Baptism is open to anyone who seeks to belong to the Christian Church. Historically baptism has taken place when children are very young and not able to answer for themselves. When this happens, parents and godparents or sponsors make promises on the child’s behalf. If you have not been baptised as a child, you can choose to be baptised at any time.

A person can’t be baptised twice. The normal practice within the Anglican Church when a person has been baptised as a child, is to be confirmed by a Bishop when he or she can make the promises for themselves. The action of God, the Holy Spirit, in Confirmation means that the person can take their place as an adult member of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Baptism involves making promises before God about the way one chooses to live, stating your belief in God, then being ritually washed by sprinkling or immersion with water which has been blessed, and having the sign of the cross made on you, sometimes with blessed oil. Baptism in the Anglican Church is normally accepted as suitable for membership in any of the mainstream or orthodox Christian traditions.

If you are interested in baptism for yourself, or your child, you should contact one of the clergy or the parish office. A meeting will be arranged at your home where all your questions will be addressed.