A Christening marks the beginning of a journey of faith. In baptism parents and godparents are able to thank God for the gift of their child and to ask the church for support in nurturing them on their journey of faith.

Christenings at St. Mary’s generally take place on the 4th Sunday of the month at 4.00p.m. The service lasts about 40 minutes and it is likely there will be other families also having their children christened at the same time.  To find out more about our Christening services, you can talk to a member of our ministry team at our Just Ask sessions from 10am-11am on Saturdays, either in our Vestry Hall or the churchyard.  Alternatively, you can contact the church office at officeassistant@portseaparish.co.uk.

Inquiries about Christenings at the daughter churches of St. Faith and St. Wilfrid can be made either through our Just Ask sessions, the church office, or the priests attached with those churches. Times for these services are generally at 11.30a.m. on a Sunday to suit families’ preferences.

If you would like to make a Christening enquiry or booking then please fill in the online form and someone will get back to you.

Please contact the church office for more information: 023 9281 4444

Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child

An alternative to having your baby christened is to have a service of “Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child”. In this service, you thank God for the gift of your child and your child is blessed by the priest. You and your child’s sponsors do not make the same promises as in the Christening service and it is possible for your child to be christened at a later date. To book a service of “Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child” call in to our Just Ask sessions either in our vestry hall or the churchyard, on a Saturday morning between 10.00a.m. and 11.00a.m..  Services at our daughter churches of St. Wilfrid’s or St. Faith’s. can also be booked here or arranged separately with the priests at the daughter churches.

For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Christenings - Just Ask