The Sacraments with FAQs
A Sacrament is an outward sign of God's invisible grace. In our everyday lives, a sign on the road is there to point to us or to alert us to something. As Christians, we believe that the sacraments are a gift from Christ to his Church in which he alerts and points to us that we can receive God's grace.Confession
At times the burden of living through difficult stages in our lives becomes too great. We may find we lack the means in public worship to express our concerns to God. Often an informal chat with one of the clergy can help. Sometimes formal confession is the best way of providing the personal assurance of God’s love and forgiveness. A priest is always available to offer this sacrament.
FAQ
Q. I thought that confession was something that Roman Catholics do.
A. The Church of England has always offered this Sacrament. The 1662 Prayer Book made it clear that when necessary, a priest was to offer it to those needing it.
Q. I feel that making my confession would help, but I’ve never been to confession and I wouldn’t know what to do.
A. A priest would help you to prepare, and explain what is involved. A mutually convenient time would be arranged for you to make your confession privately in Church.
Baptism
Baptism is the entry point into the Christian faith. By being baptised you become a member of Christ’s body on earth, which is his church. The promises that you and the Godparents make are to encourage the spiritual growth and development of the person being baptised. At confirmation that person has the opportunity to confirm for themselves the promises you made on their behalf.
The Abbey Church encourages the Baptism of children and Baptism is open to people of all ages. We welcome an application for baptism from anyone within the parish, and any who have a connection with the Abbey church. Baptisms take place normally at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, except for the 2nd Sunday of the month. To arrange a baptism, contact Fr Chris Atkinson who will discuss a convenient time to meet, fill out the application form and prepare you for baptism.
FAQ
Q. Do parents and Godparents need to have been baptised?
A. Yes; however we recognise that not all adults feel comfortable about being baptised publically! Private adult baptism usually takes place a day or two beforehand. It is anticipated that you will be prepared at the same time as the parents of the child to be baptised.
Q. Is there a fee for baptism?
A. There is no fee; however, there are collection plates at the back of the Church for those who wish to make a donation. If you pay income tax, there are Gift Aid envelopes available for your donation. These enable us to claim back 28p in every pound from the Government.
Confirmation
Confirmation takes place when a person feels ready to confirm for themselves the baptism promises that were made by their parents and Godparents – often when they were infants.
At Confirmation, the Bishop lays his hands upon the head of the person being confirmed. In this, God’s special Grace to help and assist us in keeping our baptismal promises throughout the rest of our lives is confirmed.
Those who wish to be confirmed are prepared over a period of weeks before and after the confirmation service. To talk about confirmation, please contact Fr Chris Atkinson who will arrange to meet and discuss this with you.
FAQ
Q. How old do I need to be to get Confirmed?
A. There is a minimum required of needing to be rising 10 years – and there is no maximum!
Q. Will I receive preparation to receive Holy Communion before I am baptised?
A. Yes, the preparation involves a rehearsal – at which you are taught what to do
Ordination
Ordination in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England is the act of ordering – or setting aside – an individual to a particular ministry. The ministries are three fold: the diaconate, the priesthood and the episcope (being a bishop.) Each order is different and distinctive. The Deacon’s role is to be an educator and a pastor; the priest’s role is to be pastoral and prophetic; and the role of a Bishop is to have pastoral oversight and to be the father in God of all the clergy in his diocese. We have Deacon’s and Priests in the Abbey Church.
The ministry of God’s people is not confined simply to this three-fold ministry. There is a very important role undertaken by the laity. At the Abbey Church we have a Ministry Team made up of both lay and ordained people. If you feel called to Ministry and would like to speak to a member of the Ministry team about it, call Fr Chris to arrange an appointment.
Eucharist
There are two sacraments that Jesus gave us in the Bible. The first is Holy Baptism and the second is the Holy Eucharist (the Mass, or the Holy Communion). The Holy Baptism is a once in the life-time sacrament but the Holy Eucharist is for frequent, and for some every day, reception. It builds up and deepens our spiritual life in Christ through the receiving of his body and blood in the consecrated bread and wine. The Eucharist spiritually nourishes us and helps us to grow in service.
FAQ
Q. Do I need to be Confirmed to receive Holy Communion?
A. The normal practise in the Church of England is for the communicant to have been Confirmed. However, in some Anglican Churches, a dispensation has been given by the Bishop for people to be prepared to receive Holy Communion – on the understanding that they are Confirmed later. The Prayer Book reminds us that those adults who are not Confirmed, yet wish to receive the sacrament, may do so as long as they indicate that they are willing to be Confirmed later.
Q. I am not a member of the Church of England, but I receive Holy Communion in my own Church. Is it alright to receive Holy Communion?
A. Yes it is.
Marriage
Christian marriage is different from marriage in a registry office. The difference is that the marriage is blessed by a priest and involves prayers, hymns – an act of worship. We extend the possibility of marriage to all. To arrange a wedding, contact Fr Chris Atkinson – he will make an appointment to meet with you and to discuss what is involved in your marriage at the Abbey.
The recent change in the rules has made it easier for people who live away to be married at the Abbey Church. Anyone who either lives within the parish or who has an actual connection with the Abbey Church through attendance at some point in their lives, or through their parents or grandparent’s connection, may apply.
FAQ
Q. How do I qualify to be married at the Abbey?
A. If you live within the Parish of Bourne and have not been previously married (unless your previous spouse has died) you are entitled by law to be married at the Abbey.
If you have been previously married and your previous spouse is still alive, Fr. Chris has the Bishop’s permission to offer the possibility of the sacrament of marriage to those who apply. To obtain further details of what to do, please contact Fr. Chris to arrange a convenient time to meet.
If you do not live within the Parish of Bourne, it may still be possible for you to be married at the Abbey. To qualify, you need to be able to demonstrate an actual connection with the parish or the Abbey Church. This can include having previously lived in the parish, having previously worshipped here, or claiming connection through the involvement of your parents or grandparents with the Church by, for example, their marriage or baptism in the Abbey Church.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. This year, the basic cost of a marriage at the Abbey is £530-00. This includes the Church’s fees, Minister’s fees, and the Organists fee. It does not include fees for heating, fees for the choir, fees for the bells, or fees to hire the flower pedestals. These are additional are additional to the basic fee. Please contact Fr. Chris for these details.
Q. How do I go about booking the Church?
A. Please contact Fr. Chris to consult over the availability of dates and times, and arranging to meet to discuss what is involved in the preparation for your marriage at the Abbey.
Q. How long in advance do I need to make contact?
A. Most people make contact with the Church a year in advance of their wedding. It is important to remember that you need to contact the Church check on availability before you book your reception venue.
Bereavement
We all encounter bereavement at some point during our lives. The Abbey Church is here on those occasions to offer help and support. This takes the form of bereavement visits, preparing and organising for a funeral and the burial of cremated remains in the garden of remembrance in the churchyard, if desired. We also offer post-bereavement support which includes a Book of Remembrance and the opportunity at our annual Commemoration of the Departed where your loved one is named and prayed for, and a candle is lit in their memory.
Attendance at worship is an important way in which the Abbey Church family upholds those who are bereaved, in friendship and pastoral caring. The weekly worship at the Abbey Church always involves prayers for the departed and the opportunity to experience the support and encouragement of the Christian family.
FAQ
Q. Who is entitled to have their funeral service at the Abbey Church?
A. All who live within the Parish of Bourne are entitled by law to have their service at the Abbey. In addition, those who have previously lived here or who have a connection with the Abbey may also have their funeral service here.
Q. Who is entitled to have their ashes interred in the Garden of Remembrance in the Abbey Churchyard?
A. All who have had their Service taken at the Abbey Church may have their ashes interred in the Garden of Remembrance. Those whose loved ones have had their funeral service elsewhere, but who have a connection with the Abbey may also apply.
E-mail: info@bourneabbey.org.uk