Baptism isn't for everyone because the promises people make are specifically to do with becoming a Christian and a member of the Church.

This is especially so in these times when so many people are 'put off' by the hypocrisy of the Church's saying one thing and then doing another.

This does not ever mean that God does not want to help us, or welcome a new life. Nor that we don't wish to thank God for a new life. Our experience is that many people, for whom Baptism is not the best option, really want to say 'Thankyou' to God, and to give their new baby a name, and to invite their wider family into their life for help and support.

We are trying to reduce the hypocrisy by both taking our baptismal promises very seriously, but at the same time offering some other options that may suit better. At St. John's we have developed a service that helps people to do this. Instead of asking people to come to our church at our time to do 'our thing', we conduct a Naming, blessing and thanksgiving service.

This lets you choose your own day, time and place and to write your own words. We are most happy to help in whatever way we can in this process. To see one version of a 'Naming Blessing and Thanksgiving Service' click on this link.