As a parish in the established Church of England, it is our privilege to be involved in many of the significant moments of people’s lives. We will do our best to guide you through what Christians mean by baptism, marriage and funerals. For details about any of these services or advice on how to proceed, please contact Durham North Team at Team Office to discuss arrangements with the Rector/Vicar.

Christenings For Children

Everyone is welcome to have their children christened in their parish church. During the christening service your child will be baptized and with the support of the church, you and godparents, your child begins an amazing journey of faith.

All you need to know about planning and going to a Church of England christening can be found at: churchofenglandchristenings.org. It also includes information about another church service to say thank you for God for your baby.

Adult Baptism/Confirmation

Sometimes, seeing someone else baptized, deciding to have your own child baptized or being asked to be a godparent, can make you to think about your own journey of faith. If you were not baptized as a young child, you may be deciding now as an adult or teenager to make this commitment. Whatever led you to this point, baptism marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives. If you are mature enough to make your own decisions and you’ve decided you’d like to be baptized, you’ll have a baptism service that is designed for adults.

You may have been going to church for a while and want to make a more definite commitment in terms of your Christian faith. For adults and young people, baptism usually takes place shortly before, or at the same time, as confirmation. Confirmation is the service when those who have previously been baptized affirm those promises and are specially prayed for by a Bishop.

Weddings

Today more than a quarter of all marriages in England between a man and a woman take place in the traditional setting of a Church of England church. You’re welcome to marry in church whatever your beliefs, whether or not you are baptised and whether or not you go to church. All you need to know about planning and going to a Church of England wedding can be found at: yourchurchwedding.org.

This website also includes information for same sex couples regarding the current law.

Funerals

A funeral is used to mark the end of a person’s life here on earth. Family and friends come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God’s keeping. These can be a small, quiet ceremony or a large occasion in a packed church.

Everyone is entitled to either a burial service (funeral) or to have their ashes buried in their local parish churchyard by their local parish priest regardless of whether they attended church or not. If the churchyard has been closed, then the Local Authority will provide alternative places of burial and the minister can carry out the service there instead of the church or crematorium.

All you need to know about Church of England funerals can be found at: churchofenglandfunerals.org.