Genealogy Chat

blimey!! didnt think this thread was still alive LOL Julie

I think Baptisim is a Sacrament and a religous rite, I was Baptised as a Catholic, I think Christening is the giving of a christian name. But Baptisim is welcoming some one into a religon, and so i was told washing away the original sin. Julie

Baptism and Christening are the same thing. Baptism is a word found in the Bible and basically means to wash but Christening is a word that came much later on.

The wording used in the ceremony is 'I baptise thee in the name etc............' Reg

The word Christening comes from 'Christing', or receiving the child into the church. Both things are really the same. Tony

Has it been baptised or christened????????? LOL Jay

oh heck!! what have I done?? created a monster LOL seriously, thank you everyone need to get to bed, otherwise baby will be awake before i get to bed LOL night all Julie

Having thought about it, I think baptism is actually the use of water to symbolise the washung away of sin. Christening is the giving of a name which recognises that person as an individual in the eyes of God, the community, Both things take place in the service. To most parents, unless they have a strong faith, it is the naming or Christening aspect which is important Jay

thank you all for your replies and interest, OC your welcome, my hubby told me the thing about marriage, he is a font of information (if you pardon the pun) Julie

OH, I'm getting too slow, lol Kath. x

OC, According to Google definitions a wedding is the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed. Marriage is the act of marrying; the nuptual marriage. Kath. x

Julie Thankyou, don't know why that didnt occur to me! OC

I've got it... Baptism gives you to God, Christening gives you to the Church. OC

cor blimey!!! thats woke you all up!! the marriage is the ceremony the wedding is the event of the marriage, if that makes senses, it does to me Julie

No idea, Tracey, but I believe they call it baptism as they have or take baptismal names. I believe most C of E vicars would refer to a baptism rather than a christening. It is usually parents who talk about having their child christened. Jay

The terms are (as far as I know) interchangeable. Baptism is the term used in non-conformist churches. In the CofE and RC churches, infant baptism is followed in childhood by confirmation (terminology may differ). The Baptist Church has only adult baptism by total immersion in a sunken baptistry which is normally covered over. The Methodist Church has slightly different orders of service for infant baptism and adult baptism. J

I always understood that a Christening was the receiving of a child into the Christian faith. The baptism bit (which comes into the Christening ceremony) is the using of holy water by ANY religion. For example, any member of the C of E (and possibly the RC, I'm not sure) can baptise another person, usually a baby,in extremis. But for that baptism to 'take' the child has to be Christened, to be received into the Christian faith on earth. A baby who has been baptised, but not Christened, will go to heaven and it does not need to be received into the Church on earth. But I think in practice it really means the same thing! What I want to know is, what is the difference between Marriages and Weddings, and why would the Vicar head up the page 'Weddings and Marriages' if they are the same thing? OC

ok then what do Roman catholics do?? Julie

Janet you said..........................Isn't baptism the actual sacrament, and christening (being entered into the Christian church) the event? What do Catholics call it then? Sorry if that is a silly question.

Isn't baptism the actual sacrament, and christening (being entered into the Christian church) the event? But both mean the same. jay