Church is about sharing together, both in celebration and in grief.
Please contact us to find out more about baptisms, weddings and funerals.
Welcoming Children
Baptism (Christening) and Thanksgiving
The arrival of a new child is a time of great joy and celebration. Your child is precious to you and precious to God. You want the very best for them, and so does God. God offers His presence to every person from birth. A child’s journey in Christian faith begins with their formal welcome into the family of God (the church) and involvement afterwards.
We offer two services that may be appropriate for you and your child as they begin their journey with God and His family: Thanksgiving (or Dedication) and Infant Baptism (sometimes called Christening). Both take place within a regular Sunday Worship service, 10am or 3pm, at either St Katharine’s or St Margaret’s. Anyone who lives in the parish or has a qualifying connection with the church can ask for a baptism or thanksgiving for their child here.
Weddings
We’re delighted that you’re considering getting married in St Katharine’s, Knockholt, or St Margaret’s, Halstead. Marrying before God in church, with your family and friends in attendance, is personal, meaningful and beautiful. Churches are special and unique places to be married in – the promises, the prayers, the address, the music and the whole service of celebration become part of your marriage, on the day itself and beyond. It is a privilege and joy for us to journey with you and conduct your wedding.
Funerals
A funeral marks the close of a human life on earth. It is the opportunity for family and friends to mourn, to give thanks for the life which has now completed its journey in this world, to commend the person into God’s keeping and to receive the comfort of our loving God.
We understand that a bereavement is a deeply upsetting time and aim to support you as well as organising a funeral sensitively and efficiently. We will work to ensure that either one of the clergy or our Licensed Lay Ministers (Reader) is available to meet with you and to conduct the funeral service of a loved one. These services can take place either in St Katharine’s, Knockholt, or St Margaret’s, Halstead, or a local crematorium or cemetery.