Godparents are for YOU.

They’re special. They’re people who your parents want to play a unique role in your life, and who they trust to be close to you.

Everyone’s heard of fairy godmothers - a kind of instant rescue service, someone who’s there when all else fails and usually gives you rather good presents. In a way, that’s true. Godparents are there to set you off on the journey of faith, helping you to become the person that God has created you to be. Like your parents, they promise to be there for you, to watch out for you, share the experience and offer signposts. Because they are GODparents, their special responsibility is to help you find out more about God and the Christian faith. They believe this will be a gift for you that lasts forever (but they may give you the odd worldly present too!).

Promises, promises

Your Godparents have promised to ‘walk with you in the way of Christ’ and ‘help you to take your place within the life and worship of Christ’s church.’ They make promises saying that they reject everything that is bad and wrong in the world, that they will try to live good lives themselves and that they are sorry for all the sins that break up our good relationship with God and the people around us.

They promise that they ‘turn to Christ’ as their saviour and as the person who shows them how to live the sort of life that God wants for us. Many Christians - most in some churches - are baptised while they are babies or young children. In some churches people are only baptised as adults. Then they will not have godparents but may have ‘sponsors’ to support them.

What can you expect?

Godparents are all different. So it’s difficult to say what you can expect from yours. But at the very least you can expect them to be interested in you and on your side. You should be able to trust them - maybe at times when you don’t feel like talking to your parents.

Of course, like anything else, you are more likely to have a good relationship with your Godparents if you spend a bit of time and effort on them too. Tell them about what’s going on in your life, and what is important to you. And ask them about their own life and experiences. If they don’t live nearby you could invite them to your church, or ask to go to theirs, or visit somewhere together. Your Godmother or Godfather should be happy to be with you and talk with you about the things that really matter in life. That’s what being a Godparent is all about!

When did you last see your Godparent?

Even if you are not close to your godparents now, when you were baptised they felt proud to take an active part in your life. Sometimes circumstances change, people drift away. But even absent godparents will remember that special relationship they have with you. They will probably feel a sense of loss because they have been out of touch.

So why not trace them and give them a call? If you have their email address let them know about this site or let us contact them for you.