A HOMELESS man, two brothers and a school girl were among those to be baptised in the open air on the steps of York Minster.

Hundreds gathered outside the cathedral on Saturday to watch the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, baptise Christians from churches across the city in what has become an Easter tradition.

Five people had originally been planned to be baptised until an onlooker and member of the church's Never Give Up homeless group became the sixth when he asked to be included.

John Youll, 47, from York, was baptised by Dr John Sentamu, who said to the crowd: "I'm quite glad one of our friends came off the street. He wants to come back to Jesus... You are going to be a new man."

Brothers Christian, 28, and Christopher Pillai, 24, from Strensall, spoke of how coming to the Church had helped them to turn their lives around.

Christopher said about the baptism: "It was freezing cold, I couldn't believe it but it was an enjoyable experience."

Among the others to be baptised was eight-year-old Amelia Scarlet Lennox from Bootham who said: "I was ready for it, I feel really good now, I feel like a different person."

Another person to take part was Fiyinfowwa Babatunde, 23, a University of York student from Tang Hall and Abigail Long, a member of Elim Pentecostal Church.

Archbishop Sentamu said: “This is the ninth year of our outdoor baptisms, but each year is an exciting occasion. Every year is different, because every year we hear different stories of why people are committing their lives to Jesus Christ.

"No-one’s story is the same, people come to know God in many different ways, but there is always one element running through every story: these people have discovered that God loves them unconditionally, and they want to publicly commit their lives to Jesus Christ. I think they are truly brave, making this commitment in front of the whole City of York, in the Yorkshire spring weather."

The event was organised by One Voice York.

After the official open air baptisms had taken place, people amongst the onlookers were invited to come forward and be baptised by the Archbishop, who submerged their heads in the water.

York Press: