Baptism for babies and children takes place in a service often called a Christening. Christening services are free at St Mary's.

St Mary's welcomes all babies, children and families for Christening services – whatever shape that family takes. Anyone can be baptised as long as they have not been baptised already. You do not have to be married or have been a regular churchgoer – as  a parent, you do not even have to have been baptized yourself. You can have your child baptised regardless of whether or not the parents, are baptised. It is only the godparents who are required to be baptised (so the only time a parent would have to be baptised is if they were also acting as a godparent).

In a Christening service, parents thank God for his gift of life, make a decision to start their child on a journey of faith and godparents promise help and support. The church also promises to welcome the child and to pray for the family. For your child, being baptised at a Christening marks the start of a lifelong journey of faith as part of the local and worldwide Christian family.

Godparents are some of the most important people at a baptism, their role is to: