ABSTRACT

Since godparenthood had its genesis in the sacrament of baptism, an investigation of the ceremony, and of the changes that occurred to it, is vital in order to understand spiritual kinship in the early modern period. Baptism was clearly one of the most significant rites of passage in the lives of individuals, holding a unique place in the theology of Catholics and Protestants alike. However, between and within these religious groups there were fundamental differences of opinion that manifested themselves in struggles over the place and time of baptism, the personnel who should be involved, the format and symbolism of the ceremony itself, and the accompanying rituals of gift giving and feasting. This chapter attempts to examine what has been termed The economy of sacred’ as evidenced in these debates and their impact on religious practice, which can be glimpsed through the changing liturgy and the reaction to it of the people of England in an era of religious revolution and evolution.1