This Autumn, two members of the Parish of Little Somerford were baptised in the River Avon by the village of Great Somerford. The baptisms took place during a Sunday Holy Communion Group Service, attended by members of the Woodbridge Church community.
Ed and Tommy, both in their 20’s, grew up in the village and have been friends since primary school. Having both grown up swimming in the river, it was deeply meaningful for them to be baptised here. Before their baptisms, they told the congregation why they had chosen to be baptised, sharing powerful testimonies of encountering Christ and choosing to follow Him.
Tommy spoke about his journey of faith and search for purpose, saying:
“My journey to faith wasn’t really marked by one dramatic event, but rather a series of small, meaningful moments to me. At one point, I found myself feeling lost after losing my job at the time and searching for purpose. I’d initially explored other spiritual paths, even reading the Quran because of things I’d seen, but it just didn’t resonate with me.
Life moved on and eventually, I turned to the Bible, and that’s when I truly found Jesus and haven’t looked back since.”
Ed spoke about how choosing to follow Jesus had impacted his life, saying:
“He gave me the strength to fight battles, but the humility to accept defeat. He gave me a mind to learn and study, and eyes to witness and discover. He gave me hands to feel the physical and a heart to feel the emotional. He gave me a voice so I can be heard and ears so I can hear others. He instilled in me a resolve to stand for what's right, but an understanding for when I get it wrong. He'll put me through trials to build my character but give me peace for when it gets too much. He promises that it doesn't matter how dark or twisted the path may seem if I stay holding on, he will not let me stray from it.”
By conducting baptisms in a river, St John the Baptist Church in Little Somerford join the group of Churches who have recently chosen to baptise people in local waterways. In 2024, in the Diocese of Truro, the Camelside Benefice celebrated multiple baptisms on the De Lank river on Bodmin Moor. In the same year, in the Diocese of Winchester, the newly formed Thorngate and Blackwater Benefice hosted its first full immersion baptism in a nearby river Dun. The river baptisms echo Jesus own baptism in the Jordan and offer an opportunity to experience the beauty of God's creation.
Fr Christian Saguyan, who baptised Ed and Tommy said:
“The joy of working in rural communities are the unexpected events, God-events. We were not expecting two young men, at different times, different occasions, seeking to join our early Morning Prayer at a small village church, so they could know more about Christ, and then to be baptised. Wow!”
Ed and Tommy now meet with Fr Christian once a week to study the Bible and are currently reading through Romans.
If you’re considering baptism, whether in the beauty of the outdoors or within church walls, your Church leader would be delighted to speak to you about the journey. Don’t hesitate to reach out and begin the conversation.