Seven church members baptised by total immersion at All Saints Church, Sidmouth

EASTER Day service celebrations were made extra special at All Saints Church, Sidmouth, this year, when seven members of the church fellowship were baptised by total immersion.

The event took place in the church gardens, in glorious sunshine, witnessed by more than 200 people.

The Reverend Roger Trumper, who conducted the service, is pictured baptising Harry Burgess, with Phil Cranch, churchwarden, on the right and Harry’s daughter, Helen, waiting to hand him a towel.

Harry’s wife, Lyn, with Mary Davies, Frances Bigland, Julie Wheeler, Tony Wiltshire and David Guthrie-Clark took part in the ceremony.

“We used our new, portable baptistery on the grass outside the church,” said Phil Cranch, church administrator.

“The purpose was that those baptised should declare their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and testify to what God has done in transforming their lives.”

Some were-affirming their previous baptism vows.

Mr Trumper said: “Being baptised by immersion is important to many people as it is a vivid picture of the meaning of baptism, of being united with Christ in his death and rising again to a new and different life, empowered by the Holy Spirit.”