There are two options available when you enquire about a special service for your baby or child at Ridgeway Methodist Church. The Methodist Church is one of many churches that baptises infants (sometimes called 'christening'). We also offer a service of thanksgiving for the birth or adoption of a child. Special services (baptism/thanksgiving) to welcome children often take place either in our all-age worship services (there are about seven of these each year at 10.30 am) or at 12.30 pm. Although we cannot guarantee a particular Sunday we do try to be flexible.

This service requires parents to make some quite demanding promises. To make the promises sincerely, parents need to think seriously about providing a Christian home, Christian example and Christian upbringing for their child or children. A Christian home is normally a place where the child's Mum and Dad are married (though lone parents can also provide a Christian home). The church expects that the family of a baptised child will attend the church regularly and that the child will grow up to attend the church and one day decide to follow Jesus and be an active Christian.

Some parents are simply thankful for the gift of a child and want to express that in church without making big promises, which they do not feel that they could keep. This is quite an appropriate celebration and we are pleased to offer it as an alternative. The most important thing is to know that there is a welcome for you and your child in the church and for you to feel that in whatever service you share you are doing so sincerely. Other parents want to reserve the service of believer's baptism for their child (later in life) and thanksgiving is particularly appropriate for parents who choose this option.

You can contact us by telephone, by post or by email and we will be very pleased to hear from you. Alternatively, simply come to our Sunday morning service at 10.30 am. We serve tea/coffee and biscuits after the morning service and you can often arrange an appointment to meet our minister and discuss your plans. We are confident that you will enjoy the service and receive a warm welcome.