The banks of the River Swale were crowded with family and friends at the weekend as ten local people were baptised in the river waters at Brompton on Swale.
Wading into the water to take the service, wearing wet suits beneath their cassock albs, were the Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven, Ven. Beverley Mason and local vicars the Revd Lindsay Southern, Vicar of Catterick with Tunstall and Revd Yvonne Callaghan, Vicar of Easby, Skeeby, Brompton on Swale and Bolton on Swale.
It’s the third year in a row that the river baptisms have been held on the Swale by the local churches, recreating the historic scenes of the 600s when St Paulinus baptized thousands of converts in the River Swale, known then as 'The Holy River'.
Being baptised were Arthur, Thea, Beau, Noel, Ralph, Olivia, Georgia, Emileigh, Liz and Sharon. Renewing their baptism vows in the river were Rebecca, Kat, Oliver, Alison, Clair, Neil and Avril
The baptisms were located at the Brompton Caravan Park in Brompton on Swale on Sunday 16th July, a glorious sunny day, and after the service food and fellowship were shared together.