Life Events
Baptisms & Thanksgivings for children
"The jailer … and all his household were baptised" (Acts 16.33)
Jesus showed that God welcomes all who come to Him, and longs that we should follow Him as our Lord. Throughout history, people have held special services to involve God in their celebration of new life, either when they wish to give thanks for their children and commit them to God or later when they become Christians.
The church offers a choice of services suited to people of different situations, including thanksgiving and baptism for children. Children are an important part of the church family and we welcome them warmly. We are delighted to share with parents in giving thanks for their children, praying for them and helping them develop as individuals and Christians. The church is pleased to talk with you about the options available and to help you decide what’s right for you and your family.
Baptism & Confirmation for believers
Many people who believe in and follow Jesus choose to express their faith in a formal way, and find this a helpful way to articulate the Christian faith for themselves.
For people who were baptised as infants, this is (in the Church of England) usually by Confirmation in a service led by a Bishop. Each year St John's offers Confirmation classes, separately for adults and young people, leading to Confirmation in a special service at Salisbury Cathedral.
For people who were not baptised as children, baptism is offered using water as a symbol of the cleansing that God gives. This can be either at the beach by immersion, where going down into the water symbolises the end of our old life, and coming up out of the water symbolises the start of a whole new life with Jesus, or in the church building using a smaller amount of water in the font. The symbolism of baptism is the same, however much water is involved.
Weddings
"A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife" (Genesis 2.24)
Marriage is a gift from God in which a man and a woman are united with each other. If you are considering getting married, we congratulate you on your engagement and encourage you to marry in church.
Please contact the Vicar David Price to discuss eligibility and legal requirements relating to marriage. He will ask you some questions to find out if it is possible for you to be married at St John’s and check the church calendar to see if the date you are considering is available.
For more information about getting married in an Anglican Church, you might like to have a look at the Church of England Weddings site.
Banns of Marriage
If you are getting married in church (either at St John's or somewhere else) and you live in Heatherlands parish, you are required by law to arrange for your Banns of Marriage to be read at church in this parish. We are happy to arrange suitable dates for these to be read (on three Sundays, usually at our 10.30am service). Please contact the Church Office for details.
Funerals
"I am convinced that neither death nor life … nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8.38-39)
When we lose a loved one, it is traditional, as well as immensely comforting, for family and friends to come together to both grieve and give thanks for that person’s life. St John’s is available for funeral services, and our vicar is also able to take services of cremation or burial. The back of the church, around the chairs and tables, is often used for refreshments after a funeral service.
There are many advantages in having a funeral service at St John’s:
- Major life events are often marked at church
- We can accommodate large numbers
- The length of the service is not restricted
- We are flexible with regards to the day and time for the service to be held
Following a church service, a committal can take place at either a cemetery or crematorium. Some people choose to have the funeral service at the cemetery or crematorium, followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at St John’s.
Funerals are normally arranged with the church via a funeral director, but please do contact the Vicar if you have questions. We are also able to offer pastoral care before and following the funeral.
For more information about funerals, have a look at Church of England Funerals.