River baptisms being held on Bodmin Moor
Peter GlazerA remote river on Bodmin Moor has become an unlikely venue for baptisms.
A local rector said he sought permission to conduct the outdoor full-immersion ceremony.
It's part of a 'Moorland Church' concept started by the rector, Reverend Robin Thwaites, during lockdown.
"People live and work out on the moors and so to be able to incorporate that into this very special service is just wonderful," he said.
A congregation of about 90 people gathered to witness the baptisms at Delphy Bridge on Sunday 15 September.
Nicolas Cuming was the first in, gasping "that's cold" just before his head was submerged in the murky waters of the De Lank River.
As he towelled off afterwards, he said he felt "amazing", adding: "The whole experience, getting in the water, sitting down, getting dunked backwards then coming back up again, it was unbelievable.
"It is a little bit chilly this afternoon, I am not going to lie, it took everything for me to get into that water but I'm glad I did," he laughed.
Nicolas's wife Nichola and their four children were watching from the bank.
She said: "They are all used to going to the church, this is a bit more exciting than our normal Sunday service so spirits are certainly high.
"They have been bribed with, if they are very very good while daddy is having his baptism, they can go for a little paddle in a minute."
At the centre of the action and standing in the middle of the river was the Reverend Robin Thwaites.
He is the Rector of the Camelside Benefice churches, covering six remote villages on Bodmin Moor.
His idea of a 'Moorland Church' was born during lockdown four years ago, and led to him holding services and meetings in the open air, including at Delphy Bridge
He said: "All the time we have had those services, I have been looking at the water, thinking 'I need to use this, I need to see if we can get some baptisms done'.
"When I put the word out there, people were just over the moon, they really wanted to come and be baptised in the river that means so much to them.
"There's something very special about having a baptism in the parish church, in the font, but equally, certainly here, the land is so important to this area
"People live and work out on the moors and so to be able to incorporate that into this very special service is just wonderful," he added.
This is the second river baptism staged this year in the De Lank River.
The general consensus is to wait until warmer weather next summer before arranging the next one.
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