Baptisms
We welcome enquiries for baptism from those who live in the parish of Old Harlow or from regular worshippers from outside the parish, who worship here at St Mary's. Whether your enquiry is for yourself, your children - or both!
Sometimes people use the word 'Christening' to refer to baptism. In fact both words imply initiation. At St Mary's, we want to give all those baptised the best possible start, because baptism, far from being just an event in itself, is the beginning of a lifelong journey with Jesus.
Whether you are seeking baptism for your children, or you want to be baptised yourself (as many people are these days), you will be making promises before God and the church about your life and the upbringing of your children. Similarly, in the Baptism Service, we as a church will be making promises to you before God, to help you in your journey.
This is a challenging thing to ask, but don't worry, help is at hand. We want to help you to be thoroughly prepared, not just for the big day, but for the journey beyond.
Baptism preparation will normally begin with a visit to you by one of the clergy. The main preparation is through our Start Course, which we run regularly through the year. The course gives you a chance to explore the Christian faith more deeply as part of your preparation for the promises you will make at the Baptism Service.
To enquire about baptism, please contact the parish office in the first instance with your details, and you will be invited to come along to a Sunday service. Baptisms normally occur on the second Sunday of the month at the 10.30 am Service.
