BAPTISM OF INFANTS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1929, Page 9

BAPTISM OF INFANTS

UNIQUE EVENT AT HAMILTON.

PUBLIC CEREMONY ADVOCATED.

(By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night,

An event unique in the annals of the Church of England in New Zealand took place in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Hamilton, last night, when Bishop Cherrington administered the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, the infant being his newly-born .son.

It was the first time that a public service of baptism had been held in the cathedral, and the building was full to overflowing. Attired in his episcopal vestments of white and deep blue, and crowned with his mitre, the’ Bishop baptised his son Peter Cecil Cherrington. The baby, who was nursed by his godmother (Mrs. L. N. Gillillan) began to cry during the ceremony, but was pacified sufficiently to allow the service to proceed. Mr. D. Hay, people’s warden, acted as godfather. After the usual rites at the font the procession returned to the chancel.

In his sermon the Bishop explained the Sacrament and his reasons for introducing it into the evensong service. He said that it had fallen into disuse, but the special rubric in the Prayer Book commanded that infants be publicly baptised where possible so that the congregation would remember their own professions in this respect. He expressed the hope that more baptisms of a similar nature would be held in the cathedral.