In the official teaching and liturgy of the Church of England, 'baptism' and 'christening' are exactly the same thing. However, some people made a distinction, and this is occasionally seen in parish registers where clergy apparently adopted the popular terminology.

According to this way of thinking, baptism was the part of the ceremony involving water, and christening was the part where the child was received into the church. The church intended these to be part and parcel of the same occasion, although it also provided for private baptism where children were thought to be in danger of death, and if they survived, they were expected to be brought to church later.

In spite of this official line, private baptism often came to be seen as the norm, with the so-called 'christening' happening later, if at all. If it did happen, that's when you might see separate dates for 'baptism' and 'christening' in a register.

In this case in Kirkby Ravensworth, it seems likely that John Sheffin/Shippen was baptised privately. Some clergy would have noted 'Private' against the entry, but it seems that Robert Scott might have been following popular usage here, and trying to say that whereas the baptism had taken place, the so-called 'christening' hadn't. This was only the third baptism he had taken in the parish, so it may be that he hadn't yet learned the correct way to record it.

I had hoped to find the Bishops Transcripts to see how it was recorded there. Kirkby Ravensworth was in the Archdeaconry of Richmond, and the BTs for there are at West Yorkshire Archives in Leeds. As such, they used to be at Ancestry, but I couldn't find them just now. Can anyone else?

Arthur


On 04/11/2023 16:31, Rosemary wrote:

I've been looking at the baptism register for Kirkby Ravensworth around 1788.

One entry intrigued me as the printed word 'Christened' had been crossed through and replaced with 'Bapt'.

06 Aug 1788 John son of John and Jane SHEFFIN [probably SHIPPEN].
"John Son of John SHEFFIN & Jane his wife of Newsham was Born Augt 4th 1788 and Bapt. Augt 6th 1788
Registered Augt 6th 1788 by me Robt. Scott Minister"

I have looked at some of the pages on either side of this, and this would seem to be the only entry where it has happened. The incumbent changed earlier that year, but this hasn't made any difference.

They had a daughter, Jane, who was 'christened' on the 07 Sep 1791.

Could it mean that the family were non-conformist? Possibly Catholic?

Rosemary