Archbishop to perform full-body immersions (From York Press)

Archbishop to perform full-body immersions

9:28am Sunday 23rd March 2008 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

THE Archbishop of York will once again be baptising believers in a ceremony in the centre of York this weekend.

For the third year in a row, a water tank will be set up where Dr John Sentamu will hold a full-immersion ceremony called The Big Hope at 3pm tomorrow, Easter Sunday But, unlike in previous years, the baptisms will not be held in Parliament Street, after a forecast of wintry weather forced the ceremony indoors.

Instead, the ceremony will take place in St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, next to York Minster.

The baptisms, organised by One Voice York - an inter-denominational network of Christian churches in the city - first took place in 2006 and last year's event, which was shown on news bulletins around the world, attracted more than 1,000 people to either be baptised or watch the ceremony.

A spokesman for the Archbishop said: "It is all about attempting to revive the tradition of full-immersion and baptism.

"Anybody who wishes to be baptised by the archbishop should contact their local Anglican church or One Voice York.

"He will baptise as many people as want to be baptised and will be there for as long as it takes."

There will also be live music from York City Gospel Choir from 2pm.