Does the Church of England have a separate baptism service for adult candidates?
In the Book of Common Prayer, separate provision is made for the baptism of infants and for those ‘of riper years.’ The Baptism services in Common Worship, though, make no basic distinction between the baptism of infants and the baptism of those who come to it later in life. The Commentary in Common Worship: Christian Initiation is clear that there is one service of baptism (page 333). The difference lies in the way the service is conducted. At an infant baptism, the questions are put by the priest to the parents and godparents on the child’s behalf; at a baptism of a young person or adult, the questions are addressed to the candidate directly (Common Worship [main volume] page 353, Common Worship: Christian Initiation, page 66). Whilst an older child or an adult has no need of godparents (in that he/she makes his/her own decisions and promises), there is the possibility of appointing sponsors who stand alongside him/her at the time of decision. The other issue for consideration is tha
