Re-Christened ?

[stevecw]

I've come across many examples where some of my Ancestors re-use names where a child has died and a later child is given the same name, but is it very common for a child to be Christened/Baptised twice perhaps if the parents later decide to change their name so have them re-Christened?
Today I have come across the 3rd separate incidence where I have found baptisms say for Elizabeth then later Elizabeth Ann or Annie Priscilla then later Harriett Annie Priscilla but I can't find the deaths for the first baptisms. I know not all deaths can be found but 3 separate occasions seems a bit high ? 
All the second Christenings have had names added so can't help thinking Aunt Mary insisted on having the child named after her so the parents went back to the Church to make it formal ?

Many thanks.....

Steve

[stanmapstone]

There are instances of children being baptised twice. Most probably because, as far as the Church of England was concerned, the first baptism was not lawful, or "all things were not done, as they ought to be" Or the Parish Priest was deliberately kept in ignorance of the first one.

The first question asked at the Public Baptism of Infants in the Book of Common Prayer is "Hath this Child been already Baptized, or no?".Only if the answer is 'no' can the baptism continue. If the answer is 'yes' then the Priest has to examine them further as to the find out if the child was lawfully baptized, and if the Minister shall find by the answers of such as bring the Child that all things were done as they ought to be, then shall not he christen the Child again but shall receive him/her as one of the flock of true christian people.


Stan

[stevecw]

Many thanks for your reply Stan, your explanation is very clear, but of course as we have all experienced, the way our Ancestors were supposed to act & behave under the Law is one thing.......... but how some actually behaved was totally different !!! 

(If only they knew what problems they'd give us decades later?) 

Steve

[stonechat]

I have a family moved from Worcester to BIrmingham and the three surviving children were re-baptised there