Thread: Why baptised twice?

Using a subscrription site transcription of the LMA archives, I appear to have found that one of my paternal grandmother’s brothers – George Brixey Sainsbury - was baptised twice within a fortnight. The first time it was at St Philip’s, Clerkenwell and then 11 days later at Holy Trinity, Gray’s Inn Road, a mere ½ mile away. They are both C of E churches, both very close to home (I believe Margaret St is now Margery St).

I am convinced they are the same person as – as well as the child’s name being identical - the parents names are the same, their home address the same, and the father’s occupation shows a similar variation to the censuses and other documents in which he appears. The only discrepancy is the date of birth which the priests kindly added – in one case 15 June and the other 15 July 1888, I assume one of these was just a mistake.

Have you any idea why he might have been baptised twice? George’s two elder siblings and two of his younger ones were all baptised at St Philip’s, Clerkenwell - and ONLY there as far as I can see. And I have found baptism records of both parents too, and they were christened C of E too, so it’s not as if they were of different churches.

Thank you.

Commercial site

Hi There Alweeks,
As far as civil law is concerned a person can be baptised as many times as they like.
Sometimes parents may have Baptised their child on the day they were born or shortly after just incase it was thought the child may not survive.This was usually a Private Baptism. The 2nd Baptism could have taken place when the child was received into the church. My friends Grandson aged 5 years has been Baptised twice. Once in the Church Of England when he was a few weeks old and just recently in the Catholic Church age 5 years..Why? His Father is C Of E and his Mother is Catholic and his Mother has enrolled him in a Catholic school..Baptism is however an ecclesiastical practice and most religions accept that it may only be performed once. Problems can arise when
one church does not accept anothers views and teachings such as in the case above for my friends Grandson.

Marion

George Brixey Sainsbury's parent married in 1883. This could be a simple family issue, ie both families did not get on, so thence two baptisms one for each family.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
Name: Henry Byron Sainsbury
Year of Registration: 1883
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: West Ham
County: Essex, Greater London
Volume: 4a Page: 133
Spouse: Elizabeth Brixey