Getting Baptised

GETTING BAPTISED

If you are wanting to arrange for the Baptism (same as Christening) of either your baby, your child or yourself, it is necessary to approach the Church in the first instance. They will explain the following requirements:-

1. Residential Qualification

Generally speaking, you are required to be resident within the boundaries of the parish of Cobham or Luddesdowne. This is not a legal qualification but a pastoral one. Baptism is the initiation of a person of any age into the Christian Church. In order to fulfil the promises made by baptismal candidates or their parents/godparents at their Baptism, they will need to live near enough to become regular members of their local church, so the closer they are to it, the easier it is to nurture that bond and fulfil their baptismal pledge. However, every application will be given careful consideration by the Area Dean.

2. Thanksgiving Service

This is the first step towards the Baptism (Christening) of a baby. The Thanksgiving Service is an informal service which takes place on any Sunday that is mutually convenient to the family and to the Vicar, in which the parents give thanks for the safe arrival and gift of their baby. Within the service the Vicar will take the baby in her arms, ask the parents to name the baby, and then bless him or her. The service, is NOT a Baptism Service. There are no godparents, no water is applied, and no promises are made.For some, that is all they require and they take the matter no further. Others require the Service of Baptism.

3. Baptism Service

This takes place in the context of a Family Service. At Baptisms, the candidates (or parents/Godparents in the cases of babies and young children) make promises concerning their Christian faith, and their determination to renounce sin and follow Christ. This will involve the support of the church, and the regular attendance of the family at appropriate services in that church. As an outward sign of that commitment and of the forgiveness Jesus Christ offers us through his death on the Cross, at the font the candidate has water sprinkled on his/her head in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and a Cross drawn by the Clergy with her wet finger on their forehead as a token of their initiation into the Church of Christ.

Before either of these services can take place, the Clergy will call round to your home to meet you and explain the service to you, and answer any question you may have. No fees are charged for either of these services.

Please contact Hilary Savage 01634 723027 or Janet Weaver 01732 823936 for further information about Baptisms at Cobham & Luddesdowne .

For more general information on being baptised please click here to visit 'The Church of England' site where you will find useful questions and answers to help you.

Arranging a funeral

ARRANGING A FUNERAL

The Church is often contacted by local Funeral Directors on behalf of a local family who have lost a loved one. This is an important part of their ministry. Several options are open to the family, all of which will be explained by the Funeral Director or by the Clergy.

1. Cremation or Burial

This is where the service takes place in the chapel of the public crematorium or cemetery, conducted by the local Vicar in whose parish the deceased lived – a service lasting no more than 30 minutes.

2. Church Service

Funeral or thanksgiving services can take place in either Cobham or Luddesdowne churches, depending on the address of the deceased. In the case of funeral services then after the service the coffin is either driven to the local crematorium for committal, is interred in a public cemetery, or, very often, is buried in the church graveyard. Thanksgiving services give the opportunity for the family and friends to celebrate the life of the deceased.

3. Preparation

All the above options will be discussed with the family carefully and thoroughly by the Funeral Directors and the Clergy who work closely together to ensure that no problems occur. Before any of these services take place, the Clergy will visit the bereaved family at their home to discuss the service with them, to agree the content, the music and any participants taking part. The matter of fees will be discussed privately by the Funeral Directors.

For more useful information on Funerals please click here to visit 'The Church of England' site.

Weddings

GETTING MARRIED

We are always delighted when we are approached by a couple who want to get married in one of our churches. Both of them are highly sought after, since they are both very beautiful and photogenic churches, although quite different. St Mary Magdalene Cobham is a magnificent church, seating up to 250 people, whereas St Peter & St Paul, Luddesdowne is a little gem, seating about 100 people. Please read The Marriage Measure as set out by the Church of England below.

The Marriage Measure
We understand that there are many couples who would like to marry in a church that has special significance for them, through family or other close connections. So from the 1st October 2008, the CofE has made it easier for couples to do just that.
From 1st October in order to marry in the parish church of a parish other than the one where you or your fiance/e are living, without the need for a Special Licence, you or your fiance/e will need to demonstrate just one of the following 'qualifying connections'.
That:
• One of you was baptised in the parish concerned (If you were baptised and confirmed at the same time, the provisions on confirmation rather than baptism apply)
• One of you has been confirmed, and was prepared for confirmation in the parish
• One of you has at any time lived in the parish for at least 6 months
• One of you has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months
Or:
• One of your or your fiance/e's parents has lived in the parish for at least 6 months at any time after you were born (or, in the case of your fiance/e's parents, at any time after your fiance/e was born)
• One of your or your fiance/e's parents has regularly attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months at any time after you (or your finace/e) were born.
• A parent or grandparent of you or your fiance/e was married in the parish.

In all cases - i.e. worship, baptism, confirmation or marriage - this applies only to Church of England services.
Even if you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, we want to help you explore whether it may still be possible for you to marry in your special church.

For more general information on Weddings please click here to visit 'The Church of England' site were you will find useful questions and answers to help you prepare for your wedding day.