Bowthorpe Church also has a baptistery at the front of the church for adult baptism. This is a very special moment on the journey of faith and follows a personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour.
Normally baptism takes place by full immersion in water as part of a public act of worship. It signifies the end of our old life and of being born again to new life in Christ. It speaks of repentance and cleansing, of being united with Christ in his death and resurrection, and of witnessing to the call of God upon our lives. As the Apostle Paul says, ‘We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.’ (Romans 6:3,4)
How does Baptism happen?
Bowthorpe Church has a baptismal pool at the front of the church that is usually hidden under the floor, with steps going down into it. Before the baptismal service, the pool is uncovered and is filled with warm water. At the service itself, any being baptised will often give a testimony to the congregation on how they became a Christian and why they have chosen to be baptised. Then, immediately before baptism, they will be asked basic questions of commitment, including an acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. A minister normally baptises. He or she will hold the person being baptised, placing one hand on their back and the other on their chest. He/she will then say the words, ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’, and plunge the person being baptised backwards so that they are fully immersed in the water, before raising them back up to standing position. They then leave the water.