How to Plan a Christening.

Please do not book the party then start looking round for venues for the christening itself. You won't get as positiive a response as you might want.

Remember that video recording of services is not permitted, so if you would like the ceremony videod you need to think of another venue.

At Darrington Church we normally do christenings in the family service which is usually the 2nd Sunday of the month. (Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday can be on any Sunday). We do not normally do christenings in Lent or Advent, or at Harvest.We can do christenings at Easter, Christmas, at Pentecost (May - Whitsun).

Christenings at Wentbridge Church are normally arranged for a Sunday when the vicar can be there, rather than somewhere else. The same applies at Smeaton. The service at Wentbridge is 9.15am as it is at Smeaton. It is preferable to have your ceremony in the normal Sunday worship, but we understand that this is not always possible for logistical reasons. 

For those who live in the parish, or were married here, or who have family here, we welcome you back to the Church for the christening without precondition, though we expect you to attend a couple of family services before the christening. This Church attendance is to help you get to know the building, the people, and the Christian faith, as your preparation for the christening.

If you do not live in the Parish, and do not have family who live here, then we ask you to attend at least one family service (or other Church service) prior to booking your christening. It is normal to ask for your own vicar's permission prior to making the booking.

The vicar may be able to offer a service at 10.30 at Smeaton or Wentbridge, or possible at 12.15, but this depends on the rotas, who is free to help cover the other services, and how far you book your christening in advance. At short notice it is unlikely to be an option.

If a family would like to have the churching of women service this can be arranged at very short notice, but it is wise to give the vicar a call to make sure he won't be on holiday. Sometimes a christening takes place after the churching service, or on Thursday morning in the 10.30am service, or either before or after it. If you would prefer to avoid too much fuss this is an option you might like to consider.


For some couples adult baptism is a normal part of their wedding preparation, and the vicar will discuss baptism (which is the same as christening) with you if it is a necessary preliminary to a church wedding (for example by Banns based on church attendance and memebership of the electoral roll, if both of the couple wish to be members, or for a wedding by common licence.) It is nothing unusual for adults to be christened, they don't need godparents, and they should be willing to explore the meaning of life and faith and able to answer the questions in the baptism service with the answers provided. There are regular confirmation and refresher courses to help adults and young people explore faith, please contact the vicar for more details of these.

Parents and godparents must be christened themselves, and should be confirmed, though the vicar is usually willing to waive that requirement, but please consider coming to a confirmation class. 

The baptism application form is available for download here on this website, but please phone or email the vicar to discuss your application, particularly the date before you make the booking especially of the party.

If you have booked the party and are struggling to find a Church then phone us anyway as we may be able to help, and even if we can't we might be able to help you find another venue.

More details later about the christening service itself...