You have recently had a baby and you are thinking of having him or her christened. Congratulations! The birth of a baby often makes us think about the bigger issues in life: our values and spiritual priorities. Or maybe your children are a little older and you are only now thinking about what faith is all about. Today many adults ask to be baptised as well, as they find themselves drawn to God as adults. Whatever your reason for thinking about baptism you are welcome at St Mary's.
Baptisms at St Mary's almost always take place at the 11am Parish Eucharist and coming along to that in the first instance is a great way of meeting the clergy and getting the feel of our inclusive, hospitable church.
We are always delighted to carry out baptisms for members of our congregation and for people who live within the parish. If you live outside the parish boundaries, then we will either direct you to your local church, or invite you to worship with us for a while before arranging a baptism.
We are a popular church for baptisms and parishes have to prioritise the baptism of the children of parishioners. We regret we cannot agree to the baptism of those who have no present or historic connection with St Mary’s or Battersea or who are not open to the possibility of joining the church and worshipping with us as part of our faith community. If you don’t have such a connection, everyone in England lives in a parish and we encourage you to seek out your local Church of England Parish Church who will be delighted to help you.
Click below to see if you live within St Mary’s Parish.
We really value the personal touch in helping you with your plans. Please feel free to contact the clergy or speak to them after a Sunday morning service as a way of beginning the conversation about baptism. St Mary's is really great at making new people feel welcome and many people find that they want to continue to be part of our church after coming for a baptism in the first instance. The best way of doing this is to come along to church on a Sunday.
The decision for baptism is a decision about joining the Christian community. Today when people are baptised they are declaring their intention to grow as a member of the Church. You cannot be a baptised Christian and not belong to a Church.
The Christian community is not simply another club. There are lots of associations that provide a social life and support. The church is a community which believes that life should be centred on God as revealed in the life of Jesus. It is a community committed to praying for those who are its members and those who are not. Christianity is a religion that demands that our faith be put into action to create a better world. Not only should we love others as individuals, but we should work together to change society so that it is a better place in which to live. Christians have a desire to change the world and make it more like the one they believe God intended. You are welcome to join us.
During the vacancy, please telephone the Parish Office (020 7228 9648) or email [email protected] for more details. Alternatively, speak to the priest conducting the service you attend on a Sunday who will point you in the right direction.
