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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: zx123 on Sunday 06 August 17 17:48 BST (UK)
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Hi,
Would it be possible for children from a non conformist family to be baptised in a parish church?
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Very possible, a lot of my nonconformist ancestors were baptised in the Parish Church.
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And Non Conformists married in the Parish church as there was a time when nonconformist chapels were not licenced to conduct weddings.
It was also superstitiously thought that church weddings were"stronger"and the marriages were better.
Viktoria.
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Are you referring to a particular baptism?
There may not have been a convenient Non-conformist chapel or no minister at the time. One or other parent may have altered their religious belief or practice. They might have fallen out with the minister, or he with them.
There were periods in 18th century England when C. of E. vicars had to keep a record of babies of all religious denominations born in their parishes. Some entered them alongside baptisms, some kept a separate list. If they were included in a baptismal register it might not be apparent that they weren't records of baptisms.
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Also, you often find families where - for no apparent reason - one child in a run of children all baptised at the local C of E church is suddenly baptised at a neighbouring Non-Conformist church; then back to the good old C of E for the rest!
Melbell
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I believe the Church of England clergy would be breaking their own law if they refused to baptise any child brought to them, unless that child had already been baptised.
Carol
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I have a family where some children were baptised both as Wesleyans and as Church of England, both in the nearest market town.
Their house, in a village a few miles away, was registered in the Record Book of Dissenting Meetings in 1813.