christenings, Funerals and weddings
Known as the occasional offices, these important life events are a major part of the local church as it seeks to serve the community. Many families choose to mark siginificant family occasions with a church service. This can be a good opportunity to give thanks to God in times of joy, to seek his peace and comfort in times of difficulty and to worship him together.
Christenings (BAptism)
A Christening is just the beginning of an exciting journey of faith. Baptism (the event that takes place) is where we welcome a person into the family of God’s people, and rejoice in God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ. People can be baptised at any age, from a few moments after birth (usually only in emergencies) right up to old age.
Many people are christened as babies or as young children and in choosing to have a child christened, parents are saying that their child is precious to them and precious to God. Parents bring them to the church for the service along with Godparents and the wider family to celebrate this. Parents and Godparents together profess the Christian faith and promise to help the child to learn and experience a life of faith as a member of the Church. Then the child is baptised.
Others are older when they are baptised, in which case Godparents are not required, and they make their promises for themselves.
Most baptisms in this parish take place in special baptism services on Sunday mornings or afternoons though from time to time we conduct a baptism during the main Sunday Morning Service.
Baptism is always only a first step - full and active membership of the church is conferred through Confirmation, a service conducted by the Bishop during which the candidates - who are usually over 12 years of age - "confirm" for themselves the promises made at their baptism.
Before a person can arrange a baptism in this parish, they (if they are old enough) or their parents, are asked to attend a preparation class. The preparation meeting allows us to explain and discuss what baptism means and what Christians believe and are intended to help families and/or candidates to decide whether baptism is appropriate in their own case, and - if so - how to fulfil the promises that will be made.
The classes normally take place either on a Saturday morning (and sometimes on a Wednesday evening) at St Paul’s Church in Ashby and need to be booked through the Parish Office at St Paul’s. See our events page for details of the next class. The actual dates and times of baptism are then arranged with the Parish Office. If you have any questions do contact us.
Funeral
When experiencing bereavement, many people look to the Church's ministry for comfort and reassurance.
Prior to or shortly after a death
If you would like a priest to visit someone who is dying (or has just died) - please contact the Parish Priest on 01724 852079.
The Funeral
Ministers from the churches are privileged to be asked to conduct funeral services for those who live in the parish or who have a connection with it.
Funeral services may take place in any of the churches of the Parish, or in the Chapel at Woodlands, the Local Authority Crematorium and Cemetery, in Brumby Wood Lane. For more information about North Lincolnshire Council's Bereavement Services, please click here.
When someone dies it is usual to make the funeral arrangements through a local Undertaker (Funeral Director) who will then, after a meeting with the family, contact one of the parish ministers.
From time to time we are also asked to take Memorial Services (for example, when someone local has died elsewhere and people have been unable to attend the funeral). In this instance, it is more usual and convenient for relatives to contact the parish clergy directly.
Burial
There are no facilities for burial of bodies in the Parish as Bottesford Churchyard was closed some years ago (the only exception would be where a burial plot was reserved before the Churchyard was closed). Therefore most burials take place at Woodlands Cemetery (following a funeral in church or in the Crematorium Chapel) or Brumby Cemetery, although some families make arrangements to use other local cemeteries or Churchyards.
Cremation and the Interment of Ashes
Cremation generally takes place at Woodlands Crematorium (after a funeral in church or in the Crematorium Chapel). Following cremation, there are a number of ways for the ashes to be scattered or interred. For instance, they may be scattered or buried at Woodlands Cemetery (with a minister from the Parish in attendance if required) or they may be interred in the Garden of Remembrance at Bottesford Churchyard.
People who live or have lived in the parish during their lifetime are eligible to have their ashes interred in the Garden of Remembrance. For others, a place in the Garden of Remembrance may often be granted if they have a strong connection with the parish. Please approach the Parish Priest in this instance.
After the Funeral
Ministers from the Parish are happy to visit following bereavement regardless of whether they took the funeral.
Each autumn, usually at the end of October, we hold a service "for the recently bereaved" in St. Peter's church, Bottesford. A list of those whose funerals we have taken over the previous year is read out (and other names may be added on request) and there is the opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one. Next-of-kin are automatically contacted and invited to attend with other family members, but the service is open to anyone who has experienced bereavement.
More Information
For further information about any aspect of our ministry during bereavement please get in touch at any time.
Wedding
Many couples choose to celebrate their marriage not only surrounded by family and friends but also before God in a church building.
Each of our three churches is available to couples for marriage, and also for services of Blessing following a Civil Marriage (or, perhaps, a marriage abroad). We also offer other related services, for instance Renewal of Vows to mark an Anniversary, the Dedication of New Rings, or to ask God's blessing following a difficult time in a relationship.
There is considerable flexibility in terms of the music and readings for services and there are opportunities for photography and video recording both inside and outside the building. Even on a "busy" day services are never less than 120 minutes apart so there is always enough time to make the occasion special.
Christian marriage, as well as being a holy occasion (a Sacrament) is also a legal contract governed by the "Law of the Land". The rules say that anyone* who lives in the Parish or who worships regularly here may choose to be married in one of the churches in the Parish. Recent changes in the law mean that other people who have a qualifying connection with the Parish are also able to be married here (to check the qualifying criteria please see this document: Can I get married in the Parish of Bottesford with Ashby?).
Services of Blessing and Dedication (either immediately following a marriage elsewhere, or at a later date) do not have the same "legal" status and are available to all who have a connection with the Parish or its Churches.
Those who are marrying in another Church of England church and need Banns of Marriage calling in this Parish should contact the parish office to make the necessary arrangements.
For more information about any aspect of our marriage ministry please contact the Parish Priest on 01724 852079 or the Parish Office on 01724 842732.
*Where one, or both, parties have had a previous marriage which ended in divorce and their previous spouse is still alive, we are required to discuss the circumstances of the previous marriage with the couple prior to agreeing to conduct the marriage in the parish. In these circumstances please contact the Parish Priest on 01724 852079 for more details.