Genealogy Chat

I have been told that you can only be christened once, is this true? I was christened in Brighton's St Lukes C/E in 1941 according to my apoption file then adopted in 1942, and my new mum & dad had me christened in a Methodist church in St Albans Can this be? Sheila

Yes, you can be christened twice, I was! Bridget

Thank's Bridget now I'll have to find out for real Sheila

Yes you can. My mum was born C of E and then the family converted to Catholicism when she was a few years old. Quite a few there with two christenings/baptisms!

Thanks , How do I find out the St Albans christening? The Methodist church combined with 'someone'. I have not the faintest idea what they are called now?Can any one help Sheila

I was a Babe in arms both times Sheila

Sheila, Not sure which country you mean. Lots of people have been christened more than once. But in Australia now it depends on the denomination. If you have been christened in the Catholic, Anglican, Uniting or Lutheran church and you change between those they won't 'redo' you. If you join one with adult baptisms usually they will. Of course if you change religions rather than denominations, such as going from Christianity to Islam etc. then they will as well. Gee I knew that degree would answer something one day.

Well, there are two factors here of course. Adoption severs all contact with the previous life, officially. Therefore the C of E (but probably not RC) might be prepared to do a second 'christening' in a new name, although I would think its unlikely they would call it a Christening, probably a 'receiving into the Church'. Christians believe that the FIRST baptism is the only one that counts. But in this case you have a change of religion and I don't see any problem with a second baptism. OC

Thank to all of you that advise it helps BUT what do the Methodist call themselves today???? I was christened both times in England I agree it's strange how your 'now not used anymore ' past helps in this finding Ancesters thing Sheila

Still called Methodists today, but there are two sorts. Church of England Methodists. Other Methodists broke away from the established church, were often called Wesleyan Methodists, but quickly formed splinter Churches which can have the most amazing names. Can only suggest you google for 'your' particular methodist church (chapel, strictly speaking) and see what it says it is! OC

Thank you O C both my mother and father was Wesleyan Methodist Sheila

Sheila: assuming it was St.Albans in Hertfordshire, all the Methodist baptism registers should have gone to Hertfordshire county archives. Methodist records in Bedfordshire go to Bedfordshire county archives, who have them all listed on their website. In answer to the question about how many times, the strict answer is once and once only. The Methodist liturgy has provision for reception of people who have already been baptised elsewhere. J