The Church of England has introduced two-in-one marriage-baptisms in an effort to be relevant in today’s modern society.

The Church of England (CofE) has announced that it is to offer baptisms alongside weddings for couples who already have children when they get married.

The new two-in-one wedding and baptism liturgy unveiled today comes after recent research showed that an increasing number of couples have children before they get married.

Now couples will be able to baptise their children directly after the wedding ceremony as well as being baptised themselves.

There will be two different ceremonies to choose from: Marriage and Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child and Marriage and Holy Baptism.

The liturgy costs £272 and will be sent out to dioceses and parish clergy today.

The aim of this new liturgy is to attract more couples to Church weddings and help the CofE become a relevant institution in the 21st century.

The research commissioned by the C of E, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), found that a growing number of couples are choosing to have children before getting married. Also the number of couples cohabiting before marriage is rising.

However some observers have criticised the move as condoning having children out of wedlock and may confuse the teachings of the church.

The Bishop of Fulham, the Right Rev John Broadhurst, told The Times: “It is a pity they have not put in a funeral for grandma as well. What are they playing at? It seems trendy, and it reveals a complete lack of awareness of the reality of what goes on in parishes. I do not understand why they want to do it.”

Those in favour of the marriage-baptism services state that it gives couples greater flexibility and adds further meaning for a family on a special day.

The Bishop of Wakefield and Chair of the Liturgical Commission, Stephen Platten, who drew up the liturgy, said: “Baptism normally is celebrated in a Sunday act of worship – but patterns of relationship and marriage within society are presenting new opportunities for the Church.

“We are therefore offering guidance on how Thanksgiving for the church can respond pastorally to our changing world if a priest feels it would be advisable to offer this option.”