Hi Mike, and Muriel, When I had my first child in the 70's, my grandmother, (a total matriarch), was adamant that I shouldn't go to visit any friends until I and the baby had been to be 'churched' (me) and the baby christened. This was in the North East, I don't know how commonplace it was generally, but it was within our family. I also have a burial record of a baby, who died shortly after birth, where it was noted that the child was buried in the churchyard, but without a church service, as the child had not been baptised. Such a sad little note. Kind regards, Yvonne (nee Sherlock) > On 2011/07/17 00:32, Murlel Sherlock wrote: > >> Another reason was, and this was very important back then ; That a child >> could not be taken out until it was baptised, hence PRIVATE BAPTISMS. > > Not heard that one before. How did the parents get the child to church for > a > normal baptism, if it couldn't be taken out until it had been baptised? > > -- > Regards, > Mike Fry > Johannesburg