Good Parenting

All over the world there are traditions of ceremonies that acknowledge the arrival of a new baby. At the ceremonies the child is welcomed into the community and chosen adults make promises about the raising of the child.

Most people think of Christenings, or Baptisms, as being the church services offered by the Church of England or the Catholic Church. However, as well as the traditional church ceremonies there are a number of non-religious alternatives available, as well as less formal options, such as a family naming-day held at home.

For those who want a church service, but without the full commitment of baptism into the faith, the Church of England introduced a Thanksgiving, or Blessing Service, in 1999. In recognition of the need for a secular alternative to the traditional event, Civil Naming Ceremonies were introduced. Rather like a Civil Wedding being an alternative to a church ceremony, the Civil Naming Ceremony is a formal occasion welcoming and naming a child without any religious content. These ceremonies can be arranged through the local Registry Office.

Humanists believe that man is the highest power and that mankind has advanced without God. The British Humanist Association arranges secular ceremonies to welcome a child. These ceremonies can be held in your home with a celebrant from the Association officiating if you wish. There are also a number of commercial businesses who offer alternative naming ceremonies. Some will provide a script to form a basic structure for the service which can be personalised with readings or poems. This kind of ceremony would ideally suit those not wishing to hire a celebrant to conduct the service.