Charlotte Church and family celebrate Ruby's christening

During a 40-minute service in a church decorated with white flowers and under the watchful eye of seven security guards, 9-month-old Ruby Megan Henson was christened Saturday afternoon.  The BBC reports that her parents — Charlotte Church, 22, and Gavin Henson, 26 — arrived separately at the St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church in Cardiff for the ceremony.

The couple expect their second child in mid-January. 

Source: BBC; Photo by BARM/FAME.

Comments

Apparently, they have a magazine deal for pictures of the Christening, and this is why the parents arrived seperately. If this is true, I feel a bit sad that they felt that the money made it worth Ruby not being with both parents on her special day. Regardless, I do love this family, and congratulations to them.

- phoebe on June 29th, 2008

Why would them arriving separately mean that Ruby didn’t have both parents there? Maybe Gavin got there early to make sure everything was ready, and Charlotte came later with the baby just before it began. I know regular people who do that just so that the baby can get changed into its clothes last minute to prevent burp-up messes.

I’d love to read a pregnancy column written by Charlotte!

- MB on June 29th, 2008

Wow, seven security guards?

- Michelle Z on June 29th, 2008

I think it was that they weren’t allowed to be pictured together to protect the deal, that was claimed by a UK newspaper. I just thought it was sad that the couple might value the money over being able to arrive together for such an important event.

- phoebe on June 29th, 2008

at least in my family, it was pretty common for my parents to arrive seperately for things like that. one would go early to save seats (catholic ceremonies can get PACKED!)and the other would stay to get us ready, or one would get us there if we were supposed to come early while the other would come with the grandparents and extended family. definitely not a big deal at all. even if they did arrive seperately solely for the money, i promise it won’t have any effects on their child lol.

- amers230 on June 29th, 2008

Or maybe Gavin was arriving from a separate location? Who knows? At the end of the day both parents were there and I am sure it was fabulous.

- lizzielui on June 29th, 2008

Being a fan of Charlotte Church for 10+ years, I must say I’m sorry, but I just don’t get it. I know a lot of people on here say that morality is not necessarily a religious issue, but it is to me. I say this because it would not matter whether Char and Gavin were married before having children if they were not religious. However, if you are religious enough to Christen your child, you should be close enough to God to realize what you are doing is wrong and sinful. If you don’t believe in religion to begin with, then that is fine. That is something that I believe everyone should have the right to believe. But if you obviously believe in God, don’t make it harder for the rest of us by giving the sanctity of parenthood within marriage a bad name or blatantly disobeying the Lord’s order with no remorse. We all wonder why people are losing faith in and are sceptical about religion, well this is why!
By the way, all this is coming from a 24 year old city girl who is still a virgin because that is what God wants for his ladies. I will try my best to wait until marriage, and I know the Lord forgives, but I would like to follow his teachings to the best of my ability. If I fail, at least i know I tried. It is a personal choice, and I am not judging anyone else for their personal choices, but claiming to be one thing and doing another is hypocrisy at its worst.
Unmarried people doing married people things doesn not make any sense and is not pleasing to God or helping humanity.

- Terah on June 29th, 2008

Wow, I didn’t realise my post implied that Ruby would be psychologically scarred by this! Overall, in case it wasn’t clear, what I was saying was that if this story is true, it’s a little sad to me that they would have a special day controlled by strangers and their money. Hope that clears up what I meant!

- phoebe on June 29th, 2008

I’m sure they needed all those security cards because Charlotte and Gavin are both huge in Wales. They can’t really go anywhere without being followed or attracting a large crowd so they probably just wanted to make sure their daughter was as safe as possible. I can’t wait to see more pictures of her!

- Ash on June 29th, 2008

Ash, they aren’t really that huge in Wales. They have fans, but it’s not on the level of the Beckhams or anything like that. As you can see from the picture that CBB have used on this article, Charlotte can walk along the street and not be approached by anyone. Other than protecting the magazine deal, I don’t see why they would need that many security people, the couple and Ruby just don’t get the kind of attention that would need something like that. They probably consider themselves lucky! The likelihood is that if they do in fact have a magazine deal, the magazine ordered the security to ensure the pictures were exclusive. I’m not criticising the family for taking this approach at all, I think it’s probably the best way to control any potential interest.

- phoebe on June 30th, 2008

Phoebe, if they have a magazine deal for the pictures they’re less likely to get papparazzi at the church trying to get a shot. Controlling who can get particular photos is probably the best way to protect Ruby from being scared by photographers.

- Lola on June 30th, 2008

Lola, I see where you’re coming from, but with magazine deals, that’s generally not true. The newspapers like to break the secrecy because if they are the ones to break the exclusive pictures, they will sell newspapers. So having a magazine deal with either not change the level of interest, or sometimes increse it, it won’t usually bring it down. And yes, before anyone asks, I have worked in the industry so I know a little of what I’m talking about!

- phoebe on June 30th, 2008

Are they both Catholic or just one of them?
If they are religious, I really don’t get why they have a child christened and another on the way and don’t plan to get married. To a practising Catholic that would be a big deal. Seems a bit hypocritical to me. Our priests sometimes refuse to christen babies (if both parents are Catholic) and not married.

- Sanja on June 30th, 2008

not to sound stupid, but why are these people famous… okay well the football player i get, but who is Charlotte Church, and if it’s just that she has a t.v. show, how does a 22 year old get her own t.v. show? seems as though she’d have to DO something, eh?

- fay on June 30th, 2008

My husband and I have arrived separately at events. No big deal.

Fay, Charlotte is more famous than her boyfriend! She is a classical singer who crossed over to pop etc in her late teens. She’s been famous since she was 11. She is said to have the “voice of an angel.” She’s an amazing singer.

- Erica on June 30th, 2008

Gavin is a rugby player who plays internationally for Wales and Charlotte was/is a classical/pop singer who now hosts a very funny chat show.

- phoebe on June 30th, 2008

“Our priests sometimes refuse to christen babies (if both parents are Catholic) and not married.”

Wow! Isn’t christening a pretty big deal? Why punish a child b/c of what their parents are or arent’ doing?
(Not trying to be snarky… genuinely curious!)

- Crystal V on June 30th, 2008

sanja- They DO plan to get married. They have simply decided to waited until after they have all of their children (and I am with the majority who thinks it’s probably because Charlotte doesn’t want to be pregnant or breastfeeding while planning a wedding, or to be a pregnant bride. The fact of the matter is, most weddings take about a year to plan, and if Charlotte really DOES want six kids before she’s 30, she’ll more than likely have them very close together).

- CelebBabyLover on June 30th, 2008

I don’t have a problem with people having kids when they are not married. I’m just saying that for a practicing Catholic that’s not what you’d call kosher.

- Sanja on July 2nd, 2008