Today we are going to talk about the first Sacrament, Holy Baptism or christening, as it sometimes called.  As you know, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is usually administered at the font in church, and the font itself is near the church door.  This is because, just as we enter the church, God’s House, by the door, so we enter the Church, God’s Family, by Baptism.  In other words, we become members of the Church by being baptised, though we do not become full members until we are confirmed.

The matter

The matter, that is the outward sign, of Baptism is water.  Indeed the word font, like the word fountain, comes from the Latin word meaning a spring of water.  The earliest Baptisms, before any churches had been built, were administered in streams or rivers or lakes.  So in the days of the Apostles, St Philip – the Deacon – was on the road running south from Jerusalem when he met an important official from the court of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia.  He was returning home in his chariot and was reading a passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah which foretold Our Lord’s Crucifixion.  At his invitation Philip got up into the chariot and sat next to him and told him about Jesus and his Resurrection, and about Holy Baptism.  After a time they came to a stretch of water, and the man said to Philip, “`Look, here is water!  What is to prevent me from being baptized?” (NRSV, Acts 8:36).  And Philip told him that if he believed with all his heart, he could be baptised.  And the man said that he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And the man commanded the chariot to stop and with Philip he went down into the water, and Philip baptised him.  And the man “…went on his way rejoicing” (NRSV, Acts 8:39).

Baptism by immersion

So when the Christian Faith came to England, the first Baptisms were in the open air in streams, and the candidates, like the Ethiopian, went into the water and allowed it to cover them completely for a moment or two.  This is called Baptism by immersion or dipping.  In early English history it is recorded that on Christmas Day in the year 597 AD, St Augustine baptised around 10,000 new Christians in the Swale in Kent. (1)  The Swale is the stretch of water that separates the Isle of Sheppey from the mainland of north Kent.

Baptism by affusion

Later, when churches were built and Baptisms were administered at the font, the water was poured on the foreheads of the candidates.  This is called Baptism by affusion or pouring.  No doubt it was also administered in this way in the times of the Apostles.  For example, when St Paul and St Silas were at a place called Philippi, they were severely flogged and then imprisoned and put into the dungeons where their legs were fastened in the stocks.  At midnight, when they were singing hymns in the darkness there was an earthquake which rocked the prison so that the doors burst open, and the prisoners’ chains came away from the walls.  The jailor, who was responsible for the prisoners with his life, was about to commit suicide, thinking they had all escaped, but Paul shouted out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here”. (NRSV, Acts 16:28).  The jailor called for lights and rushed in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  He brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (NRSV, Acts 16:30,31).  Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his house.  The jailor washed their wounds and he and his whole family were baptised straightaway.  Since the whole family was baptised indoors that night, they must have been baptised by affusion and not by immersion, that is, by pouring and not by dipping.

Baptisms today in this country are usually by affusion.

Form

The form, or form of words, used in administering Holy Baptism, was given to the Apostles by Jesus before his Ascension.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …” (NRSV, Matthew 28:19).

Inward grace

Now we come to the inward grace given by God in Baptism.  This is the union of ourselves with Jesus himself who cleanses and strengthens our souls with his own life and power just as water washes and refreshes our bodies.  When grown-ups are baptised, they also receive forgiveness of sins if they are repentant, that is, if they are sorry for their sins.  So on the first Pentecost St Peter told the crowd in the street in Jerusalem, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (NRSV, Acts 2:38).

The minister

The minister of Holy Baptism, that is, the person who administers the Sacrament, is usually a priest or a deacon.  But anyone may baptise in an emergency; as, for example, when a baby is in danger of death.  You should all know, therefore, exactly what to do if you were asked to baptise in such a case.  You pour water on the child’s forehead three times, saying, “John” or “Mary” (or whatever the child’s name is) “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen”.  You pour the water as you say the words “Father…Son…Holy Spirit”.  It is most important that the water should flow on the skin.

Ensuring the child is properly baptised

So in the Prayer Book, in the Ministration of Private Baptism of Children in Houses (2), if a child has been baptised at home by someone else, the Parish Priest, when the child is brought to church, is to ask these questions in order to make sure whether the child was properly baptised or not.

“By whom was this Child baptized?” – that is, “Who was the Minister?”

“Who was present when this Child was baptized?” – that is, “Who were the witnesses?”

“Because some things essential to this Sacrament may happen to be omitted through fear or haste, in such times of extremity; therefore I demand further of you,

“With what matter was this Child baptized?”

“With what words was this Child baptized?” – that is, “What was the form?”

Conditional Baptism

At the end of the Baptismal Service there is this rubric or note: “But if they which bring the Infant to the Church do make such uncertain answers to the Priest’s questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was baptized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, (which are essential parts of Baptism,) then let the Priest baptize it in the form before appointed for Publick Baptism of Infants; Saving that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this form of words.

"If thou art not already baptised, N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen” (3).

That is to say, if Parish Priests are not sure whether children (or adults) have been properly baptised or not, they baptise conditionally because no one can receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism twice.  Once you are baptised, you are always baptised and can never be baptised again.

In Common Worship the words of conditional Baptism are:

“N, if you have not already been baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. (4)

SUMMARY

1. The font in near the church door to show that by Baptism (or christening) we enter into membership of the Church, God’s Family.

2. The ‘matter’ of Baptism is water.  Either it is poured three times on the forehead or the person may be dipped in it.  The water must flow on the skin.

3. The ‘form’ of Baptism is, “N, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.  The water is poured at the words “Father…Son…Holy Spirit”.

4. The inward grace of Baptism is the union of the soul with Jesus who cleanses and strengthens it with his own life and power.

5. The minister of Baptism is usually a priest or a deacon, but anyone may baptise when there is danger of death.

References

1. Tyrrell-Green, E. (1928) Baptismal fonts, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

2. Church of England (1662) The Book of Common Prayer.  The Ministration of Private Baptism of Children in houses.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/texts/private-baptism-of-children.html  (Accessed 23 August 2010) (Internet).

3. Church of England (1662) The Book of Common Prayer.  The Ministration of Private Baptism of Children in houses.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/texts/private-baptism-of-children.html  (Accessed 23 August 2010) (Internet).

4. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2006) Common Worship.  Notes to Holy Baptism.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/initiation/presedinit/baptismnotes.html  (Accessed 23 August 2010) (Internet).