Baptism
During Covid the number of people allowed at a baptism service is limited to 6
The font stands near the west door and was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It has a wrought-iron canopy, presented in 1881. the baptistry window was destroyed in the bombing and was replaced.in 1966 with glass from the Whitefriars Stained Glass Studio, designed by Alfred R. Fisher. The Virgin is shown holding the church of St Mary Abbots
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At St Mary Abbots we're delighted to baptise children; indeed, we baptise people of any age - babies, toddlers, children, adults - who wish to join the Christian Church and have not previously been baptised. We offer the sacrament of baptism to those who either live in our geographical parish and/or those who worship with us regularly - and occasionally those with a more tenuous link but for whom this is the right church. Baptism usually takes place in the main 9.30 Sunday service about once a month. Very occasionally, for unavoidable resons, we agree to other times, but there's no such thing as a 'Private Baptism' - although of course we will also offer in those sad cases, where it is necessary, Emergency Baptism.
We believe that Baptism proclaims two great truths: that God knows, loves and cares for the person being baptised; and that by being baptised the candidate becomes a full member of Christ's Church - not St Mary Abbots, not the Church of England or Anglican Communion, but the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Because one joins the Church at baptism, it is esssential that the Church as a whole, rather than just invited family and friends, are present and involved in the welcome and support of the new Christian - hence baptism at our main Sunday service. To explore the possibility of being baptised at St Mary Abbots, in the first instance contact the clergy - ideally at the end of a service you've attended! For more information on the Sacrement of Baptism in the Church of England please click here |