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Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals, Fees |
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St Nicholas Church, Thames Ditton |
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Weddings St Nicholas is a popular place to get married. Please contact the parish office or the Vicar for further information.
If you are visiting this website to look up fees, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Please ask your guests not to use confetti: someone has to tidy up!
Here are some other websites which you may find useful: About Weddings - the official page of the Church of England http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings
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Baptisms Who can be baptised? Anyone who hasn't already been baptised. A christening or baptism service is a holy sacrament, like marriage, and involves important vows. Most people receive baptism as children. However, those who haven't already been baptised can choose to do so as adults.
To decide if baptism is right for you or your child you should understand what baptism is and why we perform it.
What is baptism? Baptism makes us a member of God's Family and a follower of Jesus Christ. God promises to forgive our past sins. Baptism is often described in terms of dying and being reborn or being washed and made clean again.
What role do parents and godparents play? As most people are baptised as children and are too young to make the promises themselves, so parents and godparents do it on their behalf. This involves declaring your own faith in God, and agreeing to pass this on to the child. You are agreeing to bring the child up as a Christian and that you will help them to learn about God's love.
You will also promise to help them grow in faith so that one day they can confirm all the promises you make for them for themselves at their confirmation.
Who can be a godparent? Godparents should be baptised, and preferably confirmed, and practising members of the Christian Church. They are chosen by you to set a good example of how to live as Christians.
How many godparents do we need? Most people have three to four godparents, two of whom are the same sex as the child being baptised. There must be at least one of each gender.
Baptism throughout the world The church has performed baptism for thousands of years. Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan by John the Baptist nearly 2,000 years ago.
After Jesus' death and resurrection, he instructed his followers to spread the word of God, the Christian message and to baptise new members into the church. This has been carried out throughout the world in the Christian Church since then.
Symbolism used during baptism The commitments that you will be making on behalf of your child are accompanied by various symbols. Water is blessed by the priest and used as a sign of God's life giving power. It shows how, just as we need water to refresh and cleanse us, so we need God's love to refresh and cleanse our lives. Before the baptism, the priest will make the sign of the cross. The priest may also invite you to do the same. This is in remembrance of Jesus Christ and is like a badge joining your child to Christ's Church. After the baptism your child is anointed with special oil. At the end of the service you, or your child, will be given a candle. This represents God's light in the world, Jesus. It reminds us that His presence is like a light in the darkness.
Becoming part of the Church and congregation You and your child will be welcomed into the church. Baptism is the beginning of a lifelong spiritual journey. Ideally, you should attend Church regularly, guiding your child toward confirmation, where he/she will be able to confirm the vows that you and the godparents have made on their behalf. If you do not feel ready for the commitment of baptism, consider a thanksgiving service. This is an opportunity for you, your relatives, and the congregation to thank God for a new life.
Your next step Contact the Parish Office to arrange a date for the service (baptisms are often conducted during the 10am Family Service on the first Sunday of the month). You will be asked to attend a baptism preparation, after a Sunday morning service, where a member of the clergy will talk to you about the spiritual aspects of baptism, and a member of the congregation can help you with the practical arrangements. You will also need to fill in a form and return it to the Parish Office a fortnight before the baptism service.
Parish Office : 020 8398 9641 stnicparishoffice@btinternet.com |
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Funerals A first port of call for funerals is often the Vicar or Parish office. We can also help you with the practical aspects and help you find suitable Funeral Directors. This web site can also be a help to family and friends who need to find their way to the church.
When someone we love dies The death of someone we love is a difficult time. We all need the support of our family, friends and those we trust. It is a time when we appreciate the care & prayers of others in the wider community. The church seeks to be part of that caring community.
Arranging a service Many people choose to have a Christian funeral service. John Silk, the Vicar, is pleased to officiate at the funeral service of anyone who lives in the parish. Because of the range of commitments that a Vicar has, please ensure that he is asked before fixing the time of service. If you make the funeral arrangements directly with the funeral director, they will contact the Vicar or Parish Office who will then get in touch with you to arrange a time to meet to plan the service.
What are the options? Most people choose between a service in church (followed by burial or cremation) or at a crematorium (e.g. Randalls Park or Kingston). Having a service in church does not commit you to having your loved one buried in a churchyard (see below). It may be that the deceased has made a particular request in their will, so before you make a decision, please check with the executor of their estate. Other than that, it does come down to personal preference.
What does the service involve? A service normally includes music, readings, prayers, a tribute, a short address and space for private reflection. The length of a service can vary, although it usually lasts between 20-30 minutes. The Vicar can help you plan the service.
The Churchyard & Garden of Remembrance In the case of St Nicholas Church, Thames Ditton, the churchyard is now closed for new graves although a family grave can be reopened for a new burial if there is space. We have a Garden of Remembrance, opposite the main entrance to the church, where the cremated remains of those who lived in the parish may be interred.
How much does it cost? The service fees vary depending on where it takes place and whether you choose a burial or a cremation. The local funeral director should be able to advise you on the fees, but if in doubt, please contact the Vicar. There are standard fees (see below) set by the Church of England and Parochial Church Council for funerals. These are normally paid through the funeral director. The services of an organist can be arranged: additional fees are payable for this.
Reception/gathering The church hall may be available for hire for funeral gatherings, although some rooms get heavily booked during the week. Please contact the Parish Secretary for this. We are not able to provide catering.
Finding out more about the Christian faith As a church family, we care for those who live in our community and pray for you as you go through this difficult time. Many people find it helpful to come to church at such a time, in order to take some time out to remember and to think about the bigger picture. You are most welcome to join us any Sunday at 10 a.m. It may be that you have some unanswered questions which you would like to work through. Please feel free to contact the Vicar, John Silk, if you would like to chat further. |
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Fees Coming to Church for worship is normally free! There are however a number of Parochial Fees prepared by the Archbishops’ Council. The main fees that are payable by law (excluding “Extras” (see note 1)) are from 1 January 2010:
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