The Baptism of the Prince: A Sermon Preached ... on Sunday morning, Jan. 23, 1842, in anticipation of the baptism of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

A freshly recovered sermon once delivered in a modest Norwich chapel offers a vivid glimpse into Victorian England’s intertwining of faith and monarchy. Preached on the Sunday before the Prince of Wales’s baptism, the address weaves scripture with the palpable anticipation surrounding a future king, inviting listeners to consider why the rite of infant baptism mattered so deeply to both clergy and laity.

Beyond the royal occasion, the speaker builds a heartfelt case for the practice as a scriptural covenant, urging parents and pastors to see baptism as the foundation of a lifelong spiritual journey. He emphasizes the tender image of Christ welcoming children, linking that devotion to the responsibilities of raising a “church of Christ” within the home. The discourse is both a devotional meditation and a gentle reminder that the humble act of water and prayer carries a lasting, communal promise.