New Every Morning Anglican Fellowship
Emergency Baptism
Job Aid 5 · Any Baptised Person · BCP p. 276 · Canon 11.11
⚠ When a person is in immediate danger of death and a priest cannot be obtained, any baptised person may baptise. This is a canonical obligation, not merely a permission.
THE CONDITION FOR EMERGENCY BAPTISM [BCP p. 276]
A child or adult is in danger of death AND a priest is not immediately available.
THE FORM — KNOW THIS BY MEMORY
Pour water on the person (forehead if possible) while saying:
"N., I baptise thee in the Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
WHAT IS REQUIRED
1. Water [any clean water; pour or sprinkle on the person]
2. The Trinitarian Formula [the exact words above — must include the three Names]
3. Intention to baptise [the minister intends to do what the Church does in Baptism]
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
1. Record the baptism [date, time, place, name of person, name of minister]
2. Notify the priest immediately [the priest must be informed as soon as possible]
3. If the person survives [the priest will receive them publicly into the congregation [BCP p. 276–279]; the baptism is NOT repeated]
4. If the person dies [the emergency baptism is complete and valid; give thanks and pray the Commendatory prayers]
⚠ Canon 11.11: "Under no circumstances shall the Sacraments of the Church be denied to a Baptized Person who is penitent and who is in immediate danger of death." — Even if under ecclesiastical discipline.
WHAT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR VALIDITY
• The full baptismal rite — emergency form is complete in itself
• Godparents — they are provided later at the public reception
• The presence of a congregation
• Oil, chrism, or any ceremony beyond water and the formula
ADULTS IN DANGER OF DEATH
An adult who has not been baptised, is penitent, and desires Baptism, may be baptised in this emergency form. If they have expressed a desire for Baptism but cannot answer for themselves, the minister baptises them conditionally: "If thou art not already baptised, N., I baptise thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
© 2026 · The Reverend P. A. Ternahan, M.A. Hum. · The Continuing Anglican Tradition of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer