It is through Holy Baptism (being Christened) that we become members of the Church. It is a Sacrament, a visible sign of God's love. It marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives and is the first step in our response to God's Love Baptism is an occasion when we rejoice in what Christ has done for us and to celebrate our hope that lies in him. We welcome all who live in our parish or worship at St Andrews to be baptised in the Christian Faith. Baptism is also a time for making serious promises and declaring the Christian Faith. The Church welcomes the new Christian, promising support and prayer for the future. In Baptism, united with the whole Church throughout the world and down through the ages, we journey into the fullness of God's love.

When an infant/child is baptised, the parents and godparents promise on behalf of the child to bring that child up in the practice of the Christian Faith and when old enough to bring the child to the Bishop to be confirmed. Like Baptism, Confirmation is a Sacrament and Rite of Initiation. Indeed, it is the completion of the rite of Baptism. In confirmation the candidate must be able and willing to profess the faith and, in the case of someone already baptised, usually in infancy, to renew the vows made by their parents and godparents at their baptism.

First Holy Communion is usually received immediately after Confirmation. A course of instruction is given to all candidates for Confirmation and to baptism candidates who are old enough to be able to understand. It is generally assumed that anyone who is to be baptised as an adult will also be confirmed most likely at the same service by the bishop.

The Church of England affirms according to Jesus teaching the Christian Marriage is the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman entered into by mutual and free consent. It is a gift of God in creation, an honourable estate, and a sign to us of the mystical union between Christ and his bride the Church. This understanding of marriage is reflected in the Marriage Service. To make a marriage a Christian Marriage the couple should have both been baptised, giving them membership of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Since 1st October 2008 The Marriage Measure introduces a number of new Qualifying Connections under which a couple may marry in the church of a parish in which they do not live and worship. Full details are from the churchwardens