Godparent Question - Help Please

[cy88]

How old do you have to be to act as a godparent in the church of England?

Mrs88 wants our 10 year old niece (baptised) to be one of our daughter's godparents. Before I ask the priest tomorrow, can anyone tell me whether this is a realistic proposition??

Thanks.

[robdickinson]

I dont think theres anything legal or formal in the 'godparent' role but its supposed to reflect the parents wishes of who looks after the kid in case they pop it, a 10 year old isnt going to be that great at fostering a child..

[Mrs Trackside]

Afaik there isn't an age limit. But think about this....

If you both died, would you want a 10 year old to be responsible for your childs upbringing? In my opinion, that's what God parents are all about.

[D_Mike]

I thought godparents were so you could name someone posh as one and give your socially-climbing child a headstart in life.

[Gaffer]

I was 10 when I became godparent to a cousin.

All was going well till after the service and we went outside the church, I was carrying the baby, it started to cry, so I let go.

It landed on the grass and bounced. It was ok and is now 19 I think.

Claire

[Piglet]

I don't think being a Godparent involves a legal responsibility to look after the child on the demise of the parents. The idea is that the Godparent says they will encourage the child to be brought up within the teachings and the belief of the Church.

I imagine the Vicar may want to be sure that the ten year old has some idea of what is going on and what it all means.

[Piglet]

Second post to say - my neice (and Godchild) would tell you that having your aunt as your Godmother leads you to be short changed in the present stakes. She has me as her Godmother and an uncle on her father's side as Godfather (just the two) so we both buy her pressies anyway.

Her brother on the other hand has slightly more remote family members as his Godparents - they buy him presents as he is their Godchild but they have never bought presents for my niece!!

She would therefore advise you to think carefully about the present buying capability of the potential Godparent!

[Antony Moxey]

I always though the role of Godparents was to ensure the child was bought up morally and spiritually correctly, rather than actually taking on the role of raising them altogether if you went toes up (although there is a legal procedure where you can agree to take on someone else's kids in that event).

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I doubt there's a limit...but doesn't it rather fly in the face of the intention of the role?



>> Edited by 2 sMoKiN bArReLs on Thursday 23 February 21:03

[Marki]

Piglet said:

Second post to say - my neice (and Godchild) would tell you that having your aunt as your Godmother leads you to be short changed in the present stakes.

Thats a very valid point

[cy88]

Thought I would address some of the comments:

As girls are apparently allowed to have two god-mothers, we've already got an older sensible accountant friend of my wife as the primary "foster" parent, although between us Mrs88 and I have got such a huge extended family that I don't envisage the looking after of a child to ever be a concern.

The 10 year old is the daughter of wife's best friend / sister in law (very wealthy ). The said friend may well have been a godparent herself had she not been an atheist. The 10 year old attends a convent school and has had a religious upbringing. She is also besotted with our daughter.

My wife wanted to know what the CoE does, as she was brought up and catholic and the age limit is apparently 16 for them.

Thanks for the responses.