What is a Christening?

So you’ve been invited to a Christening, you’ve been to a Baptism in the past but never a Christening. Are they the same thing? Do you have to do anything differently?
To save any embarrassing mishaps we’ve put together a guide that will explain the differences.

Christening vs Baptism

There is much confusion around the words christening and baptism. However, both words are used to describe the same occasion – a religious event to mark the ‘membership’ into the Christian Church. Some people use the word christening for young children but this isn’t set in stone, therefore either word can be used.

the words christening and baptism are used interchangeably and refer to the same event – being welcomed into the Christian faith

The word baptism is derived from the Greek word baptismos meaning washing. In Christianity, the tradition of a baptism is traced back to Jesus being baptised in the river Jordan. Water is symbolic in baptisms – of washing away sins and welcoming a new life in the presence of God. This is one reason many people do not always agree with christenings as they don’t believe a child has ‘sin’ to be washed away.

However, the overall meaning at a christening is one where God is thanked for his gift of life and the child is welcomed into the Christian faith. In addition, the parents and godparents agree to help guide the child with their religious beliefs and practices.

A Christening is seen by some as a lawful naming ceremony but it has no lawful basis. In the UK, a child’s name is only lawful when registered on a birth certificate at a register office.

For more details about ‘What is a Christening?’ here’s a useful link about Church of England christenings: C of E Website

“You can always ask for a blessing/thanksgiving service for the child or if you do not want the occasion to be a religious ceremony.”

Should I get my baby Christened?

Having gained an overview about what is a christening, this is a question only you can answer. For some it’s a fairly straight forward decision due to their religious beliefs. For others who may not have a strong faith the decision may be a more difficult one.

Furthermore, many parents feel they should let their child decide whether they want to practice a certain religion. As such they feel they ought to wait until the child is old enough and can make such a decision and commitment themselves. In contrast, others see a christening as a family tradition and something which ‘ought to be done’ to celebrate and commemorate their new arrival.

The motivation for some parents to have their child christened is to open the doors to a wider range of schools

For others, the motivation in having their child christened is to open the doors to a wider range of schools for the future as being christened is often a pre-requisite for faith schools. Whatever the reason, a christening can be a special one-off occasion which brings families and friends together.

What are the next steps?
Once you’ve decided whether to have your baby baptised, the next step is to organise the event. The next major decision is godparents. Who should I choose? How many do I have? This is a whole new topic so take a look at our handy tips on ‘Choosing Godparents‘.

I hope this guide to “what is a Christening” has been useful and that your Christening is a spectacular success. For more information and insights into christenings take a look at our other articles which we hope will help, such as Christening gifts from Godparents, Christening or Naming Ceremony? and Choosing Godparents – plus many more.

“You can always ask for a blessing/thanksgiving service for the child or if you do not want the occasion to be a religious ceremony.”

Make it Personal...

Your heartfelt message in the christening card will show your love on the special day and will hopefully be displayed or kept as a cherished keepsake. Want your sentiment to last even longer? Why not consider giving them personalised art that they’ll see everyday. Our unique designs can be customised with your message, creating a beautiful piece of wall art that serves as a constant reminder of your affection. Explore our Personalised Prints – elegant, sentimental and a perfect way to express your love.

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.