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The article examines relationships established through godparenthood in rural Czech society, taking the Nový Rychnov parish as a case study. The analysis is based on a cohort of 7,229 children, born in the area studied between 1800 and 1899. The study of godparenthood provides an insight into social relationships and changes in the mentality of the rural population during the transition to modernity. Baptismal ceremonies were normally attended by one godfather and one godmother; baptisms with a single godparent did not emerge till the last decade of the nineteenth century. The godfather and godmother were usually chosen from among close relatives, and in most cases were a married couple. The study of the choice of godparents within different families shows that siblings often had the same godparents. About one-third of all children were biologically related to at least one of their godparents, and the tendency to chose family members as godparents grew stronger during the nineteenth century. Among the biologically related godfathers, we observe a predominance of matrilineal relatives. Kinship was less important, however, in the choice of a godmother. Selecting relatives as godparents was particularly important for the socialization of illegitimate children.