CIVIL naming ceremonies - an alternative to church christenings - could soon be introduced in Winsford and Middlewich if the Government gives the go-ahead.

A report on civil naming has gone before Cheshire County Council's community development committee.

The report, compiled by registration service manager Martin Smith, reveals that 40 per cent of the people who responded to a questionnaire on the subject said that they were interested in the idea of civil naming ceremonies.

The civil ceremonies are likely to involve personal pledges made by parents and the child's sponsors, who will be the civil equivalent of godparents.

The number of religious baptisms has dropped steadily during the past 50 years and the proposal to introduce civil naming ceremonies has not been welcomed by church leaders.

But Cty Clr Larry Toale, chairman of Cheshire's community development committee, stressed that the county's registration service was not in competition with the Church.

"We are simply saying that we can provide a complementary service with a secular alternative for parents," Cty Clr Toale said.

The Government announced in July that the law would be changed to allow registrars to conduct naming ceremonies, as part of a package of measures to support the concept of the family.

With Government backing, the service could be available at Cheshire's three registry offices and more than 70 other 'approved buildings' licensed for marriage.

Detailed proposals are expected in a Government Green Paper to be published later this year.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.