The birth or adoption of a child is a cause for celebration. Many people are overcome by a sense of awe at the creation of new life and want to express their thanks to God. This service provides an opportunity for parents and families to give thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and to pray for family life. It may be a private celebration at home or in hospital, or it may be a public celebration in church, sometimes with a number of children.

This service is not the same as Baptism (sometimes called Christening), which is the sacrament of initiation into membership of the Church, the Body of Christ. Nor is this service inferior to Baptism, or second best.

Some parents will use this as a precursor to Baptism. Others – particularly those who are not regular churchgoers – may prefer this service instead of Baptism as it gives them an opportunity to bring all their family and friends together to give thanks to God for the gift of a child in a church-setting without having to make vows they don’t intend to keep! Other will use this service because they believe Baptism is something that a person should seek for themselves after they have become a Christian.

For more information about Baptism please click here

• For more information about a service of Thanksgiving for the birth of a child, please contact your local parish church.  You can find contact details for all our churches by clicking here.  Alternatively email your full contact details - including postal address - to info@lichfield.anglican.org and we will send your enquiry to your local parish.here