The History of Godparents

By Professor Ian Markham and the Revd Giles Legood
Co-authors – The Godparent’s Handbook (SPCK, 1997)

Originally the need for Godparents (or sponsors as they used to be called) arose when people converted to Christianity from another religion. In the ancient world, there were many religions each with different practices and beliefs. When members of a different religion (what Christians then called pagans) decided that they wanted to become Christians, they would offer themselves for baptism. They would have to approach the local Bishop (the person who had pastoral responsibility for Christians in a particular town) who would want to be reassured of the genuineness of the decision. Converts would then be asked to find a Christian friend who would vouch for them. This friend would undertake to the Bishop that they would support the convert and ensure that s/he would be helped to become a faithful member of the church.

Sponsors

In the second century the idea arose of having a sponsor for babies when they were baptised. In many ways it was a natural extension of the existing practice for adults. In the same way that non-Christians received help to grow into their new faith so, it was felt, did a baby. Until the ninth century it was assumed that the Godparents of a child would be its natural parents. Certainly it was expected that the Godparents should be very close to the child. Indeed, Emperor Justinian prohibited marriage between Godparents and Godchildren. This prohibition continues in the Roman Catholic Church today. From the ninth century onwards Godparents were expected to be someone other than the natural parents. At this time there was no fixed rule as to the number of Godparents permitted but in the fourteenth century it was recommended that there should only be one Godparent or at most two - one male, one female.

Legal Role

One interesting feature of this brief history of Godparents is that there is no mention of the legal role. One of the most widespread myths is that the Godparents become the legal guardians of the child if its parents die. It is worth being clear about this: Godparents never had any legal responsibility for the child. The law surrounding guardians is interesting. Traditionally the child was the father’s property, and so it was the father who decided all the issues relating to the child’s upbringing. If the child’s father was dead or absent, then it was the duty of the parish to care for the child. From a legal point of view, it was in 1891 that the child’s moral welfare was first considered (The Custody of Children Act). The mothers had to wait another 34 years for their rights were acknowledged. It was only in a Parliamentary Act of 1925 that they were granted legal rights of access.

Today in cases of disputed custody it is the Family Division of the Courts that rule on the case. Even when parents of a child determine the guardians in a will (i.e. those legally responsible for the child in the event of their death) this is not legally binding. The Family Division will finally determine who the guardians are. If legal responsibilities concern you, you need not worry, there is no legal link between the child and the Godparent.