Making a splash

9:48am Monday 24th March 2008

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CROWDS watched as the Archbishop of York performed open-air baptisms in the city as part of an Easter Sunday celebration.

In the specially-erected pool outside the church of St Michael-le-Belfry, next to York Minster, Dr John Sentamu welcomed 25 people into the Christian faith in a ceremony.

Dr Sentamu, in a floor-length white robe, stood knee-deep in water and fully immersed each person. The Minster bells sounded out and cheers rippled through the crowds as those baptised emerged from the inflatable pool.

The Archbishop heard each candidate tell of their reasons for being baptised before the ceremony. The baptisms were preceded by an Easter service in front of a 2,000-strong congregation, which included Conservative leader David Cameron.