Christening question

[Panders]

I wonder if anybody here knows whether if a person is going to be a god parent by proxy does the Vicar name them during the baptism service. Without going into family business, it is important to know beforehand if this godparent can remain "silent" or whether she will be named.

[Rafa]

In my experience christenings are usually quite informal and have not been to one where the vicar names the Godparents individually - unless he is being particularly friendly! The service usually just asks for a 'group response' to the promises. Maybe you could ask for a copy of the service he will use?

[Panders]

Yes I think you are correct, it is a group thing, I assume the god parent which wont be there will have to have a proxy person standing in for them to do that? Not sure the parents have really asked how it all works with a proxy.

[Cait]

Godparents are not generally named unless the vicar is asked to do so beforehand. The names will be on a baptism certificate which the parents get - if your church offers that, not all do. Quite often someone will stand in for an absent Godparent and make the Promises on their behalf, but the actual parent can do that. The vicar may want to chat to the silent Godparent beforehand, to make sure that they understand the Promises they are about to make, and hear them made. It's not a 'normal' scenario, but not insurmountable

[Panders]

Godparents are not generally named unless the vicar is asked to do so beforehand. The names will be on a baptism certificate which the parents get - if your church offers that, not all do. Quite often someone will stand in for an absent Godparent and make the Promises on their behalf, but the actual parent can do that. The vicar may want to chat to the silent Godparent beforehand, to make sure that they understand the Promises they are about to make, and hear them made. It's not a 'normal' scenario, but not insurmountable

Thank you Cait. That all makes perfect sense