by Duncan Williams, Christian Today
At the weekend, amid a prolonged heatwave, 92 people were baptised in the sea beside Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth during a public ceremony attended by hundreds of people.
The event, held on Sunday, was organised by five local churches who came together to hold an outdoor service celebrating their Christian faith on the Dorset coast.
Peter Baker, senior minister at Lansdowne Church, led the ceremony and described it as a celebration of faith.
He said the event was intended to “bring together Christians who believe in Jesus Christ and want to tell the world that”.
Mr Baker added that the church in Bournemouth was “alive and kicking” and had experienced a “quiet revival” since the Covid pandemic.
He described the beach atmosphere as being like a festival and said similar events are planned in future for people who are “unashamed” of their faith.