Traditional Ship’s Bell Baptism Ceremony Held Aboard USS Cowpens
By Lt. j.g. Maxwell Schmidt, USS Cowpens Public Affairs


Chaplain Norbert Karava from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Chapel of Hope performs the Rite of Baptism July 30 for Ken James-Steven Cash aboard USS Cowpens (CG 63) using the ship’s bell as a christening bowl while his father, EN3 Nicholas Cash and mother, Dorinda, observe. U.S. Navy photo by RP3 Keeshaun Coffey

USS Cowpens (CG 63) Sailors witnessed one of the Navy’s oldest traditions when they gathered on the ship’s forecastle July 30, to celebrate the baptism of the 8-month-old son of one of their shipmates.

Presiding over the ceremony was Cowpens Command Chaplain Lt. Kermit Jones, Jr. The rite of baptism was performed by Lt. Norbert Karava, a Roman Catholic chaplain stationed at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Chapel of Hope. The Cowpens’ color guard presented the colors during the ceremony.

Bells have a centuries-long tradition of varied use in the navies and merchant fleets of the world. Signaling, keeping time and sounding alarms are important in a ship’s routine and readiness. Their functional and ceremonial uses have made them a symbol of considerable significance to the U.S. Navy.

Regarding religious ceremonies connected to the Navy, Karava expressed, “For believers, this reinforces and affirms a fundamental religious identity that begins before military service, hopefully continues after it, and indeed, does not negate military service, but strengthens it by transcending it in importance.” The ceremony was Karava’s second baptism performed using a ship’s bell.

The bell’s connection to religious origins is longstanding. Originating in the British Royal Navy, it is a custom to baptize a child under the ship’s bell or to use the bell as a christening bowl, filled with water for the ceremony. Once the baptism is completed, the child’s name may be inscribed in the ship’s bell.

“We actually upheld both versions of the tradition. The ceremony took place under the large forecastle bell with the bridge/quarterdeck bell being used as the christening bowl,” said Jones. “The child’s name will be the third name to be engraved in the large bell.”

“My husband witnessed a baptism on his first ship and said he wanted to have our kids baptized like that,” said the child’s mother, Dorinda Cash of Farmington, N.M. “I agreed with him, thinking it would be great for our kids to have a small piece to do with the ship their dad was on. I really loved the ceremony!”

Bells remain the permanent property of the United States government and the Department of the Navy, even after the decommissioning of the Navy vessel. In this way, an invisible tie is created between the country, the ship and its citizens.

“It is an honor to be the commanding officer when ceremonies like this happen, as they are somewhat rare and yet they help to remind us of our long standing Navy traditions,” said Cowpens Commanding Officer Capt. R.G. Marin.