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)