Heath Street Baptist Church
On Sunday 18th September I attended Heath Street Baptist church to witness the baptism of that church’s youth worker Wilf Merttens. The intriguing part was the baptismal pool. How on earth do you get a pool into a church? Where was it? How big? What shape? Wouldn’t the minister get wet? Would we get wet?
As you may know, a Baptist church does not have an altar/pulpit arrangement in the same way as a main stream Anglican church. At Heath Street there is a raised dais with a simple table and chairs, a wooden cross and a small lectern for readings. Directly behind these is a splendid carved pulpit (a photo can be found on the website www.heathstreet.org). The baptistery (unusually for a Baptist church) is at the rear of the pulpit.
When the ceremony takes place the congregation gather round to bear witness to this important act. As the candidate undergoes a study course in preparation there isn’t a question and answer period before the act of baptism occurs.
To begin proceedings, the minister Ewan King, produced a large copper dish which looked like a giant’s frying pan without a handle (see diagram below) – a Victorian warming pan about 2 feet across – used to warm the baptistery water. Addressing the children present he asked them to take it out to the kitchen and fill it with water because he’d forgotten to fill the pool. The children ranging from about 10 years to 2 years were so excited and bore the dish aloft on their heads (prudently followed by an adult) and disappeared out of the body of the church. Soon intriguing noises could be heard in the background followed by cries of laughter. There was then a very interesting sermon during which Ewan emphasised that being a candidate does involve passing a test and giving all the right answers, but that baptism is a freely given gift, open to all.
At this point the children returned carrying the dish. By some miracle no water was spilt but added to that in the filled pool.
Next, with everyone singing ‘Down by the River Side’, ably led by a small choir, we all processed to the pool. Wilf was sensibly attired in a lightweight cotton shift over rather jazzy Bermuda shorts. How, I thought, will Ewan perform this act without getting wet? To my amazement, save for removing his shoes and still dressed in his suit, he entered the pool with Wilf. Wilf raised his arms and in the blink of an eye was rising up out of the water, to the cheers and applause of all present. The children then produced small paper boats containing night lights which were lit and floated on the water. It was a beautiful sight. I should add that to my surprise no child fell in either!
It was an occasion full of joy and celebration in which everyone of every age fully participated and I was so glad to be part of it.