Baptisms and Weddings
We are always delighted to help you arrange a wedding or baptism and to provide advice, support or guidance. Please contact Fr Beswick, at an early stage, to discuss your hopes and plans.
Baptism is the beginning of the Christian life. At St Peter's we baptize at all stages of life, from new-born through to adulthood. Baptism and christening are two different words for the same thing. If you are a parent and would like to have your child or children baptized, but missed out on being baptized yourself when you were younger, then we will happily help you to take this step as an adult. It is not uncommon: in fact, it is an excellent moment at which to consider taking this step of faith.
Marriage is God's beautiful gift to mankind for the building up and nurturing of a particular friendship between a man and a woman. It is a significant, lifelong commitment of faithfulness and support and and will provide the best circumstances in which to raise children. It signifies the mystical union that is between Christ and his chosen bride, the Church. Of course, not all people are called to marriage and it is not a superior path: St Peter's Church family includes many who are married and many who are not!
Here are the three purposes of marriage as set out at the beginning of the marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer 1662:
First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.
Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.
Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.