Were people christened twice?

[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

[cjackson100]

Thanks for All your replies

[Marmalady]

I have instances of babies being baptised twice under the following circumstances:

1 A baptism in local Non-Conformist Chapel followed  later by a baptism in the CoE Parish Church

2 A baptism in the family's Parish Church followed a week or so later by a baptism in the Parish Church of the village the mother came from originally

[majm]

RE 2. I think you may find that the second ceremony was simply the blessing of the newborn at mum's family church....  as per Stan's post  ..... clergy cannot Christen again BUT CAN publically bless and thus receive the baby into the faithful ........ 
Such a blessing ceremony would likely be entered by the clergy in his parish register.

So two entries, but one actual baptism.

Re 1. My elderly rellie,  retired CofE clergy says that a christening by any Protesting denomination ought to have been recognised by CofE and thus a blessing ceremony only and not the full service by the CofE .... but adds it would likely be confusing to recognise the difference just by looking at a parish register .... the difference is in the formal action of the clergy .... whether or not the clergy blesses with or without the font's water...


JM

[Marmalady]

These were in the late 1700's / early 1800's and certainly the Parish Register entries looked no different to any other baptism entry -- so no way to tell now exactly what ceremony was performed