The church of the holy innocents at highnam
Life EventsBaptisms, Weddings & Funerals
The church is privileged to be there for people at different significant stages of life – both the happy celebrations and the sad ones – through Christenings (Baptisms), Weddings and Funerals.
Baptism or Christening
Weddings
Funerals
Baptism or Christening
Baptism for a young child is often called christening – the meaning is the same.
In Baptism a child (or an adult) is welcomed as a member of the church and begins their Christian journey. When a young child is baptised the parents and the godparents make promises on behalf of the child. Firstly, they promise to bring up the child within the Christian faith, by setting them the right examples, by bringing them to church, by teaching about Jesus, and by praying for them. The parents and godparents are then asked to make the promises of the Christian faith on behalf of their child, in believing and following Jesus Christ.
The child is signed with the sign of the cross on their forehead, is baptised with the water, and is given a special lighted candle as a sign of God’s love.
Arranging a Baptism Service
In baptism we welcome you into the church family, so baptism services take place in church on a Sunday. You may choose to have this as part of the main parish Sunday service or (subject top availability) on the 4th Sunday of the month at 12.30pm.
To arrange a baptism please come along to one of our ‘drop in’ booking sessions and meet the parish priest who will be delighted to discuss it with you further. We usually hold these sessions on the 3rd Sunday of each month immediately after the morning service in Highnam Church from 12.30pm – 2pm. We would encourage you to come and join us for the 11am service beforehand to meet the wider church family. At this meeting, the priest will fill in forms with you with the necessary details and a date for the service can be agreed (please bring your diary!)
There is no charge for a baptism service because it is a service of welcome but do please consider making a donation towards the ongoing work of the church.
We rely entirely on donations and fundraising for the upkeep of the building and our work in our community. Guests are invited to leave any donations they wish to make in the offering plate after the service.
The Introductory Baptismal Letter and the Baptism Form can be downloaded below.
Please contact our administrator on Highnam.church@aol.com or 07732 331068 with any queries or to check the date of the next ‘drop in’ booking session
Introductory Baptismal Letter
Click here to download the pdf
Baptism Form
Click to download the Baptism form
Sunday Services
Holy Communion
1st Sunday of the month at 9.30am
3rs Sunday of the month at 11am
More information can be found on our Pew Sheet
About Highnam Church
Highnam Church is a Grade 1 Listed Building. Simon Jenkins included Holy Innocents in his selection of the top 100 churches in England; and John Betjeman described it as “the most complete Victorian church in the country In Pevsner’s “Buildings of England (Gloucestershire: The Vale and Forest of Dean)”, he describes the church as the “fulfilment of the Pugin ideal and a very notable monument to the Oxford Movement”.