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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: dudjac on Wednesday 29 December 04 20:13 GMT (UK)

Title: Double Christening.
Post by: dudjac on Wednesday 29 December 04 20:13 GMT (UK)
Hi All

Is it unusual for a christening to have taken place twice?
In 1850 I have a  child baptised 6/11/1850 and again 22/12/1850. Same name..same parents.  (Perhaps mum fancied the vicar.)

dudjac
Title: Re: Double Christening.
Post by: casalguidi on Wednesday 29 December 04 20:50 GMT (UK)
Was the first baptism a private one? 

Sometimes it will say private or "p" in the baptism register. 

A private baptism would often take place if the child was not expected to survive and then a later baptism in the actual church.

Note though that "p" can also mean pauper.

Casalguidi
Title: Re: Double Christening.
Post by: nutkin on Thursday 30 December 04 00:24 GMT (UK)
I have a double christening.  The parents changed religions or maybe were from two different religions.  Odd but can happen.
Title: Re: Double Christening.
Post by: Geoff of Devon on Friday 31 December 04 17:02 GMT (UK)
My father, who was the son of a priest, pointed out that the only reasons, he knows, a second baptism/christening can occur are the following:
1. The vicar is de-frocked!!!
2. Pauper's baptism then the real thing
3. Change of denomination!!!!
Say catholic to methodist or protestant....
Normally you can only be baptised once in that denomination!!

I too have a double christening, but at different churches, St Botolph without Aldgate 11/4/1827 and St Olave, Hart Street 4/3/1833, both given with the same name, parents and birth date!

My entire family clan had moved from one church to the other (change of denomination?) and re-baptise a child already covered. I know that it must be the same child as she maintains her correct age all through her life and a sibling, who is baptised at the same time, is staying with her in a much later census in 1871!  :o

So.....it does happen!!!  :o

Geoff.