Christening messages from Godparents

CHOOSING BETWEEN A CHRISTENING OR NAMING CEREMONY?

So you’re trying to decide between a Christening or Naming Ceremony, you’ve got the whole family expecting a party.
You want everyone to celebrate the birth of your little bundle of joy but at the same time you’re also thinking what’s the difference between a christening or Naming Ceremony?
Worry not, we’ve come up with some info to help you get the facts right and choose the ideal celebration for you and your family.

Christening or Naming Ceremony?

Many parents want to celebrate the birth of their baby, especially with friends and family to ‘name’ the baby. Officially, the name of your baby is recorded at your local register office and this is required by law.

Birth registration usually takes place at your local register office (usually within the district where the baby was born) and involves completing some paperwork – often by just the parents. As such, many people want to have more of a celebration and occasion with friends and family to publicly ‘name’ the baby.

“…birth registration is required by law and has to be done within 42 days of the birth of your baby…”

If you’re thinking about having a celebration, two of the main options include a christening or naming ceremony. For some the decision is fairly straight forward due to their religious beliefs, however, for others, the decision may be a more difficult one.

Shall I have a Christening?

A christening welcomes the child into Christianity and the church community. For some, a christening is seen as a family tradition and something which ‘ought to be done’ to celebrate and commemorate the new arrival. Many parents like the symbolism of a christening – having godparents and officially welcoming the child into a religious community.

For others the motivation may be a little more practical as being christened is often a pre-requisite for faith based schools and therefore may provide more options for schooling in the future.

Whatever the reason, a christening can be a special one-off occasion which brings families and friends together. If you’re not entirely sure what a christening is and what it means have a look at the article ‘What is a Christening?’

Christening or naming ceremony - Three women gathering around baby celebrating

“Choosing between a Christening or Naming Ceremony is tricky but ultimately both events bring family and friends together to celebrate a new loved one.”

Shall I have a Naming Ceremony?

Many parents feel they should let their child decide whether they want to practice a certain religion so feel they ought to wait until the child is old enough and can make their own decision.

For others, one parent may not be particularly religious or perhaps they feel hypocritical having a church service. Whatever the reasoning, if you do not want a religious service but want to organise a special celebration with friends and family then a naming ceremony may be an ideal option.

“A naming ceremony can be as formal or informal as you would like.”

A Naming Ceremony is also a wonderful way to include and welcome an adopted child or step children into a new family unit. It can be as formal or informal as you would like – this option is entirely up to you.

A ‘celebrant’ can be hired to conduct the service – for example, a registrar (similar to civil ceremonies e.g. weddings) or opt for someone else to run the service. The British Humanist Association is gaining in popularity for naming ceremonies – or you can do it all yourself or ask a confident family member or friend to do this. To find out a little more about naming ceremonies take a quick look at the article ‘What is a Naming Ceremony?‘.

Christening

  • Religious
  • Church
  • Vicar / Priest
  • Godparents
  • Usually a Sunday

Naming Ceremony

  • Non-religious
  • Licensed venue / home & Garden
  • Celebrant - registrar / humanist / yourself!
  • None / 'Supporting adults' or 'mentors'
  • Your choice (depending on celebrant availability)

We hope this information helps you decide which ceremony best suits you and your family’s wishes. No matter whether you choose a christening or naming ceremony, we hope you have a truly wonderful and memorable day!  

To find out more about humanist ceremonies and hiring a celebrant, take a look at the Humanist UK website specifically naming ceremonies here.  

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Bell & Walsh

Welcome to the world of Bell & Walsh. I'm Sarah and Bell & Walsh is my creative venture.
Each blog post is a window into my journey of running a small craft business; whether it's ideas for gift giving, handy tips, a behind the scenes look, answering your questions or creative inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read - I truly appreciate it and hope you come back and join me on this adventure.

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