Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
Enquiries about any of these services can be directed to the Vicar or can be made in the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Baptisms
Baptism is the Christian rite of initiation and sacrament which signifies purification and is a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. St Oswald’s Anglican Church welcomes any adult, infant or child to become a member of the Christian church through the promises of baptism.
Signs and Symbols of Baptism
Water
The water, which is used to symbolize the washing away of sins, is blessed and poured onto the head of the baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
The Sign of the Cross
The Sign of the Cross is a token that welcomes a person as a member of Christ’s flock. It is a symbolic act traced onto the forehead to signify that the person has welcomed Christ and His Church into their life.
Oil
The Oil of Baptism is known as Oil of Chrism and is a mixture of oil and balsam which has been blessed by the Bishop. It represents salvation and membership in the body of Christ and a promise of eternal life.
Candles
The candle symbolizes that Christ has enlightened the new believer and is present in their life.
It is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle and represents the light of faith which will endure throughout the life of the baptised.
Weddings
The Wedding Service
St Oswald’s Church is an excellent venue to hold a wedding celebration. With its wide altar, tall ceilings, grand artworks and magnificent long aisle it becomes a truly memorable backdrop for a special day.
A wedding service is a public declaration of a couple’s love for one another. At St Oswald’s Anglican Church the vows exchanged are traditionally according to the rites of the Anglican Church of Australia. However, the couple are encouraged to personalise the choice of the music, hymns and readings.
Initial enquiries should be made with the Vicar at St Oswald’s Anglican Church. If a suitable date is confirmed, then a meeting will be arranged to discuss personal wedding plans including the details of the ceremony.
Funerals and Memorial Services
Funerals
A funeral gives a platform for expressing a loved one’s life story, it presents a safe place to grieve and brings family and friends together to achieve this.
When a loved one passes away a Christian funeral commends the departed into the loving hands of God. People have created rituals to honour and celebrate their deceased loved ones since the beginning of time and at St Oswald’s we can help acknowledge what the person has meant to their family and friends and lay them to rest peacefully and with grace.
St Oswald’s also has a Hall equipped with facilities that makes a very suitable space to hire for refreshments following the funeral.
Memorial Garden
Established in 2025 the Memorial Garden has been created to inter the ashes of the departed.
A small service led by the Vicar is arranged for the interment of the ashes. After the service a plaque with details of the deceased is affixed to the wall beside the garden.
The Memorial Garden provides an alternative to members of the Parish and their loved ones who wish to stay close and connected to the Church they have supported during their lives, but they do not want to be buried in the Crypt.
The Crypt
The Crypt is a dignified resting-place for the ashes of loved ones and lies beneath the Ascension Chapel at the back of St Oswald’s Anglican Church.
There are very few places left in the Crypt but interested parties who foresee that they would like to have their ashes interred here can set aside a space by paying a holding fee. The fee includes the service of interment, a plaque in the Crypt and a smaller plaque in the side chapel.
Email The Vicar
Enquiries should be made with the Vicar at St Oswald’s Anglican Church.