LIFE EVENTS:
BAPTISMS, CHRISTENINGS AND CONFIRMATION, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS:
BAPTISM, also known as Christening, is a tremendously important step in the life of a child or adult, and we're delighted you're considering this for yourself or your child. A baptism is a time of great joy for the family and an opportunity for the church to support and welcome the candidates as they begin their Christian journey.
Baptisms take place in our normal services, generally at 4pm. If you would like to enquire further about having your child baptised, or baptism for yourself, please come along to our informal service at 4pm on Sunday and talk to the minister after the service over a coffee. He will have all the advice and forms that you need.
There is no charge for a baptism.
This link will tell you more about baptism itself.
Once a year, in early January, we hold a baptismal service in the pool at the Activity Zone, for those wishing to be baptised by full immersion - or those wishing to celebrate an earlier baptism in the pool. Please talk to Neill or Alice if you are considering this.
CONFIRMATION is a service led by a Bishop which builds on the commitments of baptism, connects a person with the Church of England and their local church, challenges each candidate to live as a follower of Jesus and gives time for the Bishop to pray for each candidate to be filled afresh with God's Spirit. Confirmation happens in Malmesbury Abbey at the end of November most years and draws people young and old from across North Wiltshire. For most people this is when they receive communion for the first time. If you are interested in being confirmed and in confirmation preparation please talk to Neill, Mike or Alice.
WEDDINGS: Malmesbury Abbey is a wonderful and inspiring place to begin your married life and we hope we can help to make your wedding very special and your marriage lifelong. It's important to plan and prepare carefully and our Parish Administrator, Sandie Brown, would be delighted to send you our booklet which advises you about the services, legal requirements, bells, flowers, music, fees etc. E-mail Sandie to see how specific dates are filling up in the Abbey diary.
This link tells you more about getting married in the Church of England.
It is very important that you don't book your reception before we have confirmed your wedding date and time at the Abbey as not all dates and times are available, particularly in July and August.
FUNERALS: Malmesbury Abbey is the Parish Church for Malmesbury, Brokenborough and Milbourne and our clergy are privileged to conduct the funerals and celebrate the lives of many of our community each year. The Abbey is an ancient place of prayer and hope and is a great comfort to families at a difficult time. We are also very happy to conduct services for people with significant links to the town, both present or in the past.
All enquires are best made through your undertaker who will act as coordinator, but of course please phone our Parish Administrator Sandie or clergy with any questions.
This link will tell you more about a funeral in the Church of England.
Our Clergy would consider it an honour to visit a loved one who is drawing close to the end of their life, to say prayers and to bring comfort. They are also available to visit confidentially and talk about your own funeral if this would give you peace of mind.