Transgender baptisms offered in UK for first time after church leader inspired by brave little girl

Progressive: A Greater Manchester church will perform transgender baptisms

A church has become the first in the UK to offer baptisms to transgender people.

The New Chapel Unitarian and Free Christian, in Greater Manchester , nodded the move through at its annual general meeting.

Worship leader Jean Clements came up with the idea after meeting a couple who had a transgender child.

The church then backed the change to help others in the same situation.

Mrs Clements told the BBC : "I felt saddened by the fact that this family were being shunned by many mainstream churches.

"However, when the family came to New Chapel, the congregation welcomed them with open arms."

Inspired: Jean Clements made the move after meeting a 'courageous little girl'

Service: The ceremony will be similar to adult baptisms, Mrs Clement said (file pic)

She added: "I would like to thank one courageous girl for inspiring me to think carefully about this issue in the first place."


The Tamside church's congregation is multi generational and very willing to accept change and freedom, according to Mrs Clement.

Unitarianism, a liberal religious movement, stands for freedom, reason and tolerance, she added.

However the church stressed it is for other chapels in the area to "to decide for themselves whether they wish to offer similar services".

The transgender ceremony will be "very similar" to an adult baptism.

Derek McAuley, chief officer of the church's General Assembly, said other churches may follow suit.

The Unitarian church was the first to allow divorced people to remarry and was quick to offer same-sex weddings.