Baptisms today

We will now look at the main parts of our Baptismal Service as it is today.  In the Church of England there are two basic types of Baptismal Service:

• those that follow orders of service in the Book of Common Prayer of 1662;
• those that follow the orders of service in Common Worship which were authorised for use from 1998.

The Services in Common Worship are the ones used most often today.  But despite some differences between the Prayer Book and Common Worship orders of service, there are a number of core elements that can be seen in both.  These elements are central to Christian Baptism and can be found in services of Baptism from very early times.  Services vary according to different situations, for example, whether an adult or a baby is being baptised, and whether the Baptism takes place within a Eucharist or as a separate service. (2)  Usually Baptisms take place in a person’s home church during the Sunday Eucharist where he or she is surrounded and supported by other members of God’s Family in that place.