Life Events
Please read on for information on special services, including baptisms, christenings, weddings and funerals at St Thomas with St Stephen.
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Baptism and Thanksgiving
Congratulations on the birth of your child. At St Thomas with St Stephen we offer two different ceremonies to welcome you and your child into the church – baptism and thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
A service of thanksgiving involves a public declaration with your friends and family that you are thankful to God for your child. You may wish to choose thanksgiving if you don’t come to church on a regular basis or don’t feel that you are a committed Christian. Many who do this choose to have their child baptised later as a sign of a growing Christian commitment.
Baptism
In baptism you and the godparents are asked to declare your own faith and trust in Jesus, and to make promises to come to church, to pray for your child and to encourage them to trust in Jesus for themselves.
As your child is being baptised into the faith of the church and you are making promises to bring them up in this faith, we encourage a number of things before the baptism preparation and the baptism itself.
To attend St Thomas with St Stephen regularly (3 or 4 times before arranging baptism preparation)
To do baptism preparation. This will usually take place in your home, over 3 sessions, with both parents. We read through the Gospel of Mark together looking at who Jesus is, why he came, and how we respond.
To read Mark's Gospel that we will send you in the post in preparation for the baptism class.
To have a continued involvement in the life of the church following the baptism service
We would expect a minimum of three months between first attending STwSS and the baptism. The above expectations are not to make baptism difficult, but to enable you to keep growing in the faith you are promising to pass on to your child. If you are not already baptised, you might consider getting baptised as well! We have facility for both infant and adult immersion baptisms as well as the use of a font.
Dates for baptisms and thanksgivings
Baptism and thanksgivings take place in our main 10.15am Sunday service. Baptisms take place on the first Sunday of most months, with up to three baptisms in one service. Baptism dates will be discussed during baptism preparation classes.
Growing in faith
We encourage parents to experience church with their children. We actively encourage all to join in the life of our church family. We have a crèche at every 10.15am Sunday morning service as well as Youth & Kids Church groups.
You may want to visit our toddler group Little Bears at St Thomas' every Wednesday morning at 9:30am which finishes with a short toddler service. Also look out for special family events throughout the year.
We have other activities such as parenting courses and Homegroups. We are always available to support and encourage both parents and children to grow in faith in Jesus and can recommend podcasts, playlists, Bibles and other books about the Bible.
Weddings & Banns
Congratulations! It is always exciting when two people decide to marry and we love to hold services and events to celebrate with you.
If you would like to get married at St Thomas' or St Stephen's Church we encourage you to complete this application form either complete electronically and contact the our Office, details found here. The form guides you through which couples we are able to marry based on a qualifying connection. One of our ministers will contact you about further details and arranging marriage preparation classes further to receipt of the form.
If you are getting married elsewhere and require your Banns to be read please contact the church office. Before contacting us, you may wish to check if you live in the parish by searching here, as you may need your banns read elsewhere. Your nearest church is not always your parish church.
Finally if you already have arrangements for your marriage ceremony but are looking for a venue to celebrate in. Please consult our Venue Hire section.
Funerals
Arranging a service of Remembrance or Christian Burial
If you have recently lost a loved one and would like to arrange a Christian funeral for a parish resident, we may be able to help. We can host Funeral services, Remembrance services or the Burial of Ashes. In some circumstances we can also provide a minister to lead a service at the local burial ground or crematorium.
Please contact us at your earliest convenience so that we can liaise with the undertakers in making arrangements.
The table of fees can be found here. Other information regarding planning a funeral can be found here.