Baptism
When an adult is baptised, they are making a public declaration of their decision to follow the way of life taught by Jesus, the Son of God. If you would like to be baptized, then we would expect you to be a member of the congregation in St Peter’s, a regular subscriber to parish funds, and be seeking to live your life according to the teachings of our Lord Jesus. This is not a test to see who is fit for baptism and who is not; rather, it should be understood that a request for baptism must flow from an existing faith that is expressed through a Christian lifestyle and Church involvement.
The baptism of a child is much more than a rite-of-passage for infants and must not be undertaken lightly. When a child is baptised, their sponsors (parents and godparents) make promises to raise that child within the Christian Church, and to encourage and prepare them for their lifelong journey with God. At least one parent should be a regular member of the congregation in St Peter’s prior to a baptism being arranged, and we would hope to see children brought to Church each week (or as often as possible) following their baptism. We have a Sunday School and monthly Family Services intended to help children in their spiritual growth.
If you would like either to be baptised or to arrange the baptism of a child, then please speak to the Rector in St Peter’s at the end of a service of worship. He will arrange a time to meet with you to discuss the matter further.
If you are not currently a member of the congregation, please join us for worship as often as you can. You will be very welcome, and the Rector would be delighted to meet you.
Please note that there are baptisms are not traditionally permitted in St Peter’s during the seasons of Advent (the four weeks prior to Christmas Day) and Lent (the six weeks prior to Easter).
There is no fee for a baptism in St Peter’s. However, it is the custom in St Peter’s for a donation to be made to our Benevolent Fund, which helps members of our local community who are facing financial hardship. By this first act of generosity, there is a direct link between committing your life to Jesus Christ, and helping people in need. We recommend a donation of £40. If you are writing a cheque, please make it payable to “Parish of St Peter & St James, Belfast”. Your donation should be made on the day of the baptism.
Please click here to fill in the Baptism Registration form if requested to do so by the Rector.
Thanksgiving for the birth/adoption of a child
The Rector will be happy to lead a short service of thanksgiving within the few months following the birth/adoption of a child. This can be conducted in the hospital, or at your home, or at St Peter’s, as you and the Rector think most appropriate. Please contact the Rector directly to arrange this at brianlacey@stpeterbelfast.org or 90777053. Please note that this short service is neither a prerequisite nor a replacement for baptism.