Hypothetical Baptism

Hypothetical Baptism is a phrase sometimes used to denote, in the Church of England, a baptism administered to a child of whom it is uncertain whether it has already been baptized or not.. The rubric states that "if they who bring the infant to the church do make such uncertain answers to the priest's questions as that it cannot appear that the child was baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," then the priest, on performing the baptism, is to use this form of words, viz.: "If thou art not already baptized, N , I baptize thee in the name," etc,