Private Baptism

[Greaves]

I have a relative, who according to the register was baptised in 3 Feb 1822 in Wilshire. Confusingly, there is a note in the margin, which states that he was privately baptised a few months earlier on 28 Nov 1821 with a notation saying "Received".

Does anyone have any idea what this means? Why would there be two baptisms? And "received" by whom and to what purpose?

Clarification welcomed.

[groom]

Received into the church. Babies were often baptised privately at home if they weren't expected to live, then when they did live they were formally received into the church.

[Greaves]

Many thanks. That makes sense.

[josey]

My understanding is that there was not an actual second baptism on the later date, but just the baby being received into the church as groom says. There are other threads on this is you do a search - I think stanmapstone has posted the whole story.
See reply #2 in these 2 threads
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=735202.msg5807666#msg5807666
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=732731.msg5778352#msg5778352

[stanmapstone]

Private Baptism is also in the RootsChat Reference Library
http://surname.rootschat.com/lexicon/reflib-lexicon.php?category=Baptism&input_form=0

Stan

[Greaves]

Sorry. I should have done a search before posting. But at least I now understand.

My problem is that as a long standing atheist, coming from a family of non-believers, I have never really understood the workings of the Church.

[josey]

Sorry. I should have done a search before posting.

No worries. There can be specific issues.

My problem is that as a long standing atheist, coming from a family of non-believers, I have never really understood the workings of the Church.

You're not the only one