St Michaels Church Castle Frome: Baptism prayers

Sunday, 10 August 2008

Baptism prayers

We had a christening today at our church and I thought I would re-print the prayers that we said for them.

Lord, as we gather together in this church today, we ask your blessing on S and M newly baptised into your family. Hold them in your arms and bless them. Shine your light on the path before them and let them always feel your loving presence as they travel along the paths of life.

Lord, we ask your blessing on the parents, grandparents, godparents and sponsors of S and M. May they guide them with their own example of your love and always be ready to listen and to comfort, to laugh and to play, to encourage and to praise. May they always show S and M that they are special in their eyes and in also in yours.

Lord, bless all the families that are in your care. Make your loving presence felt amongst them all especially those for whom family life is difficult and testing. Be with those who have no family to care for them. Comfort those whose children cause them worry or heartache. Strengthen those whose children are in danger. Be with those who long for the presence of children and have yet to hold them in their arms. Pour your blessing on them all and bring them all the joys and comforts that family life can hold.

Lord as we welcome S and M into the family of Christ, let us be mindful of the baptism vows once made for us. Let us reaffirm those vows here today and help us all to be faithful witnesses to your light and love. Let us be shining examples to S and M and support them as they begin their journey with you.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...: I really enjoyed this prayer it's so heartfelt moving. thank you; 20 February 2010 17:01
Anonymous said...: What an uplifting and appropriate prayer for baptisms. Thank you.; 23 June 2010 21:30
Heph said...: These are wonderful prayers and have given me some much needed inspiration whilst preparing for tomorrow's baptism - rather too much on the last minute! Thank you so much.; 17 July 2010 23:22
Anonymous said...: Just loved these prayers, as well as the children being baptised it included children and families which needed Gods help for various reasons which I found so heartwarming.
May you receive God's blessings.; 22 July 2010 21:32
Dr Louise Manning said...: Thank you for your very kind and thoughtful words and it is special to us that you have found the prayers meaningful.; 25 July 2010 16:46
Carole said...: Beautiful prayers that are so encouraging. Thank you; 24 August 2011 23:23

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Church History

St Michaels Church is Norman, built about 1125, probably by a member of the de Lacey family who arrived after the Norman Conquest. To the north of the church runs a sunken roadway (green lane) which runs up towards the castle. The chancel arch is Norman. The three original Norman doorways remain and include a Priest’s door in the south wall of the chancel. Each has a tympanum (lintel) over it, originally painted with subjects which have long since worn away. Over the south doorway is a sun-dial of Norman workmanship marking the canonical hours.

The nave roof is flat with beams, (15th Century) whilst the eastern half of the chancel roof has a paneled ceiling with bosses at the intersections. The pulpit is late 17th Century.
Under the east window in the south wall of the chancel is a rounded and arched recess which has been set with medieval tiles with a head at the centre and another on the right hand side. In the window above is a small sculptured figure clad in mail and holding in his hands a heart. It is believed that this commemorates a heart burial in one of the recesses below of one of the de Lacys. Could this have been a Knight who died on a crusade as it would have been impossible to bring back the body so often the heart was removed and brought back for burial? The altar rail is 18th Century. The Church underwent major restoration in 1878 and the black and white bell turret and porch were added then. There are three medieval bells, one inscribed “Maudillamor”.

The main sculptural interest is the magnificent font and dated around 1170. It is the work of the Herefordshire School of carvers. The Font stands on carvings of crouching evil creatures and is meant to represent the power of baptism over evil. Shaped like a chalice it rests on four human figures who appear to be crushed by its weight. Sadly only the head of one figure remains in a good state.

Originally the church contained the present west window, two small lights in the north wall of the nave, two in the south wall, a similar “opening” in the north and south walls of the chancel (the north one still remains).

The window in the east end of the chancel was added in the 14th Century to give better light to the altar. In the 16th Century the nave lighting was improved when the present window in the south wall replaced a smaller Norman one. There are a few fragments of 15th Century stained glass. It is suggested that the original window was damaged during the English Civil War and when the window was replaced only a few fragments were left to put back into the new one.

Against the north wall of the chancel are the recumbent effigies of William Unett and his wife Margery who died in the early 17th Century. They are in an excellent state of preservation and carved with intricate detail. The father wears a Cavalier uniform.

St Michaels Church Castle Frome

Sunday, 10 August 2008

Baptism prayers

6 comments:

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