FOUR PEOPLE were baptised in a village duck pond during an outdoor carol service in Dorset in the run-up to Christmas. The water was cold and clean, and the ducks kept their distance, the Team Rector said this week.

The Revd Tim West is Team Rector of Preston with Sutton Poyntz and Osmington with Poxwell. He said on Monday that, although he had been conducting outdoor baptisms for a number of years, this was the first time it had been officially part of the carol service.

“Since the Millennium, we have held an outdoor carol service, and for a number of years we have baptised people after it. But this year we actually wrote in the baptism as part of the service rather than tacking it on at the end.”

He said that he believed baptism should be an open event, and the outdoor service in Sutton Poyntz reflected this viewpoint. A member of the congregation, Nikki Bolingbroke, reaffirmed her baptismal vows, alongside her eight-year-old niece and two babies, who were all baptised.

“No one objected at all to the public nature of the service,” said Mr West. “The pond is very clean, and is a spring which sources the local River Jordan, which is rather appropriate. Ducks live on the pond, but they wisely moved away during the service. We did not fully immerse, and used the part of the pond which is not very deep.”

Mr West said that the service, held outside the local pub, was well supported and was followed by refreshments in the village hall. “I had agreed with all the families that the service would go ahead whatever the weather, and it was very cold. We had a great turnout, and the whole service was great fun.”