A rite on the edge : the language of baptism and christening in the Church of England / Sarah Lawrence.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lawrence, Sarah (Priest), author.

Contributor:

Charlton Yarnall Fund.

Yarnall Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Baptism--Anglican Communion.

Baptism.

Physical Description:

xv, 156 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London, UK : SCM Press, 2019.

Summary:

When it comes to baptism there is a profound disconnect between what churches and clergy understand it to mean and the understanding of those non-churchgoing families seeking the rite for their children. Clergy and regular churchgoers feel that the church is being used and abused by families seeking a baptism, when they perceive them to be looking for 'just an excuse for a party'. On the other hand, families seeking a christening in their local churches are baffled by the lack of enthusiasm and encouragement they find when they approach their local church. Using a new interdisciplinary approach to practical theology, A Rite on the Edge, reflects theologically on the findings of research conducted by Sarah Lawrence into baptism in the Church of England and in English culture more widely, using insights and research methods from corpus linguistics. It offers a profound challenge for those struggling to comprehend how 'outsiders' understand baptism. More fundamentally, it asks how the Church of England can remain 'present and available for all' at a time of heightened tensions and confused expectations about who the church is 'for'.

Contents:

The problem of 'baptism' and 'christening'

What's in a word?

The history of 'baptism' and 'christening' in the English language

Christening, baptism and the giving of a name

Marriage-like vows

Godparents

'Just an excuse for a party' : joy and celebration in baptism

Yes, but is it really CHRISTIAN baptism?

Whose church is it anyway?

Reintroducint 'christening' to Christian approaches to baptism

Appendix 1 : A note on methodology

Appendix 2 : Corpora consulted

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 143-151) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Charlton Yarnall Fund.

ISBN:

9780334058502

0334058503

OCLC:

1104474758

Publisher Number:

99982299421