If you live in our parish or if you come regularly to Holy Trinity, then you are welcome to have your child baptised here. We expect people to come to Mass on Sundays during the period between booking the baptism and the occasion itself. This gives everyone the opportunity to get used to what is often new surroundings. And we hope that what you enjoy will encourage you to stay on and be part of our parish family.

If you're having your child baptised, you'll need to choose some Godparents. Each Godparent must be baptised (christened) and, if possible, confirmed.

Fr Patrick will go through this with you when arranging the service.

There is no charge for having children baptised. It is one of the fundamental reasons why we are here!

If you want more information on the rite of baptism and what it means please ask Fr Patrick or Fr Philip for details.

Confirmation and First Communion are important moments in a Christian's life of discipleship.

Preparation involves a short series of evening (or daytime) talks that provide a background to what the rite involves and why you're taking this important step. Very briefly, confirmation is an occasion where people profess their Christian faith and receive their first communion.

A short history:

In the early days of the Church, baptism and confirmation took place at the same time – normally around Easter time. The rite would be performed by a Bishop, who, after baptism, would extend his hands over the candidate, anoint them with the sign of the cross on the forehead; and pray for the Lord to confirm them with the Holy Spirit.

As the church grew this tradition developed: The priest conducted the baptism and the bishop then came later, for the confirmation.

Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which the participation in the life of God's people inaugurated at baptism is confirmed by the bishop by the laying on of hands, and in which those who have been baptised affirm for themselves the faith into which they have been baptised and their intention to live a life of responsible and committed discipleship.

Through prayer and the laying on of hands, the Church is asking God to give the confirmation candidate power through the Holy Spirit to live out their Christian faith.

If you would like to begin preparation for Confirmation, please talk to Fr Patrick.

If you wish to be married in a Church, you will need to see your parish priest to discuss your marriage.

The Church of England gives all British citizens, with no former partner still living, the right to get married in the parish church where they live or in the church where either of the couple are on the church's electoral roll.

You do not have to attend church regularly to get married in the Church of England, neither are you required to have been baptised. A Church of England wedding may take place after notice is given by either party to the Superintendent Registrar in the district in which you live.

Once this is done (or you have spoken to the registrar and decided on the certificate/licence most applicable to you) then you must undertake one of the following:

1. Publication of Banns
2. Obtain a Common Licence
3. Obtain a Special Licence issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury
4. Obtain the Authority of a Superintendent Registrar's Certificate without Licence

We can guide you as to the most suitable method depending on your circumstances although publication of Banns is the traditional and preferred method for most couples.

Publication or Reading the Banns of Marriage (also known as 'the banns' from the Old English word meaning, 'to summon') are a public announcement in a parish church that a marriage is going to take place between two people.

The purpose of banns is to enable anyone to raise any legal impediment to it, so as to prevent marriages that are legally invalid, either under canon law or under civil law.

If you plan to marry in church, the Banns will need to be read for both of you. (If you live within this parish we can do this for you.) Please remember that reading the Banns will also need to take place if either of you is a regular worshipper in another church.

You are entitled to get married in a parish other than your local parish church if it is the church you and your fiance usually attend, and you are listed on the church's electoral roll.

You can do this if you plan ahead. To become enlisted on the electoral roll in another parish, at least one of you must regularly worship at that church. You will need to do this for a minimum period of six months. It is also a requirement that the candidate is a baptised member of the Church of England.

N.B The church electoral roll is different to the local register of electors.

So, if you wish to get married in a church which is not your own, then contact the minister of that church well in advance of the date on which you wish to be married and he will be able to advise you.

The London diocesan website has a quick guide on what else you need to know and do.

The death of someone is always a difficult time and grief is a natural response.

Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse House, 126 Sheen Road, Richmond TW9 1UR
Tel: 020 8939 9530