|
On this page ...
♦ BAPTISMS/CHRISTENINGS Each year we baptise many children, also a few teenagers and adults. This service is a very special moment, when family and friends can come together to mark this moment of thanksgiving, of commitment. At St Chad's we usually have our baptism service at 1 pm on the first Sunday in the month, after the morning service. During a christening your child will be baptized with water. It’s the start of an amazing journey of faith for your child and a special day for all your friends and family. Follow the links to find answers to your questions and to explore all that a christening means, not just on the day but long afterwards. EXPLORING MORE ABOUT WHAT A CHRISTENING MEANS Your child is precious to you and precious to God. You want the very best for them, and so does God. You want them to make right choices in life, for themselves and for others. Their baptism/christening is just the beginning of this and so much more. Over the years to come, it’s a journey you’ll share together with your child by:
Please come and see us on a Sunday to find out more, or call the Vicar who'll be pleased to help. More information from the excellent Christenings web site.
♦ WEDDINGS Your Wedding in the Church of England - Special day, Special place We want to make your wedding personal and memorable for you. Churches are special places and there are some things about a church wedding that you just can’t get anywhere else. A church wedding will add an important spiritual dimension to your marriage. The ceremony includes God and looks to him for help and guidance. God’s blessing is the main attraction for many couples, whatever their beliefs. You can make amazing vows, or promises, in a church - you can only make vows this big in a church. These vows, made in public, will help you to stay together and grow together. God and your church are there for you to help you keep your vows. The Vicar has a very particular role to play in your wedding - they can blend ancient tradition and modern experience to reflect your story, and so your wedding can be made personal, memorable, meaningful and beautiful. In Church it’s marriage in the eyes of God, which makes your commitment stronger - and it's more than simply a legal process, it’s different, it’s proper. Church buildings offer outstanding beauty. Old or new, intimate or grand, our 16,000 churches are some of the nation’s most stunning wedding venues, with two-thirds being listed buildings. St Chad's is Grade 2* and St Mary in the Baum is Grade 1. These are amazing buildings that offer centuries of history. Imagine all the couples who have married in your local church, some of whom may well be your family. You can feel you’re becoming part of history itself, the bigger plan, by marrying in the same place as your relatives. We know these sorts of connections can make your day even more special. You can be involved in making choices about your ceremony, and you can use our online ceremony planner to get you started. For some people, a church simply seems like the proper place to get married. Churches can be described as 'peaceful', 'serene', or having an atmosphere that makes marrying there a particularly special experience. If you want to know more look at the yourchurchwedding web site.
♦ FUNERALS We will always be here to help you through one of life’s most difficult times. A Church of England funeral is available to everyone, giving support before, during and after the service, for as long as it’s needed. St Chad's has been a place where lives have been celebrated since the late-1100s, St Mary in the Baum since the mid-1700s, so these Rochdale Churches are places for remembering. The message at all Church of England funerals, wherever they happen, is one of hope. Although there is sadness because someone you know and love has died, in every Church of England funeral there will also be a message of hope in life after death. Christians believe that when we die God promises that we will be with him in a wonderful place where death and pain are gone forever, and whatever the circumstances of death these words of hope are a great comfort to those who attend a funeral. We die, we can’t see the person we love anymore, but Christians believe that through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we will see that person again. It might be in very different form, in a very different way, but that is the Christian hope, and that is what everyone will get when they come to a Church of England funeral. If you have just suffered a bereavment please let us know so we can pray for you, and ask your funeral director to get in touch so we can arrange a funeral service to suit your wishes. More information from the Church of England funeral web site. |