Kineton boy becomes third generation to be baptised by a member of the family

Rev Dr Beren Hartless, who took the baptism, Katie Hartless Rose and Andrew Rose holding Alexander 'Alek'Nathaniel Conway Rose, aged 10 months, on Sunday December 27 at St Peter's Church, Kineton. (Photo by Mandy Hardwick)

A Kineton boy has become the third generation to be baptised by a grandparent in the family, who was clergy for the Church of England.

Alexander 'Alek' Nathaniel Conway Rose, aged 10 months, was baptised by his grandmother, Rev Dr Beren Hartless, on Sunday December 27 at St Peter's Church, Kineton.

Alek, born Friday 6th March 2020, is the first child for Katie Hartless Rose and Andrew Rose.

Katie said: "It was wonderful that my mum could baptise him. Having had my granddad baptise me, and my great grandad baptise mum, it was so fitting that she baptised Alek.

Rev Hartless said: "It was a great joy to baptise Alek, who was really good.

"It’s quite unusual because Alek is the third generation of our family to be baptised by a grandparent. Katie was baptised by my father (Rev John de la Tour Davies) and I was baptised by my grandfather (Rev Conway Davies), both were Church of England clergy, like me.

"I made the sign of the cross on Alek’s forehead with frankincense scented olive oil that my late mother had brought back from Israel. I also baptised Alek with water in a silver bowl that my late father had bought in the Far East during the Second World War, to use to baptise the soldiers he served with as an army chaplain.

Alek's grandmother, Rev Hartless, retired last month after 20 years working for the Diocese of Oxford. She continues to serve as an associate priest for the Edgehill Churches, which includes St Peter's Church in Kineton.