Is baptism by immersion Anglican?
At Emmanuel, we love to celebrate life-changing steps of faith by baptism by full immersion. This widespread practice throughout the CofE has recently caught the attention of secular media. You may have seen reports that a judge of a church court refused a request for a baptism pool because it would be a ‘needless waste of water’. Actually, this headline was misleading. The judge’s reason was that there is no theological basis for baptism by immersion, and that there is never any need for it when another option is available. For a fuller account by theologian Ian Paul, see Is baptism by immersion Anglican? | Psephizo What follows here is a reduced summary.
How does this decision affect us when people coming to faith, many through Alpha, and ask to be baptised in a way that expresses what is happening to them?
The judge accepted that immersion is lawful, that the pool would cause no harm to the building’s significance and that his concern about ‘waste’ of water was only an aside.
The question was whether using the pool would be appropriate. He said that the doctrine and practice of the church ‘is not determined by those about to join it’. The reception of grace should not become ‘akin to consumer choices available in worldly life.’ So, should we offer candidates a choice?
The chancellor referred to the ‘Didache’, from the early church, but the Didache is evidence that immersion was the norm and pouring was a concession, which is close to the opposite of what the judge draws from it. In Turkey, there are still many early examples of cruciform baptismal fonts, demonstrating the widespread and normative practice of immersion.
Our own Book of Common Prayer (BCP) never mentions sprinkling. For adults, immersion comes first. Of course, baptism is ‘of equal effect however administered’. But sacraments are signs, and as two of our 39 Articles insist, the sign matters. Paul’s language of being ‘buried with him by baptism into death’ is not easily illustrated by a few drops on the forehead.
Both the BCP and our modern Common Worship leave the decision to the minister. The court’s surprising decision refuses a lawful option.
Adults who have just come to faith, been taught Romans 6 on Alpha, and want their baptism to look like dying and rising with Christ are not shopping. Their request is a sign of teaching working. Baptism by immersion is a powerful reminder to the whole congregation of their own baptisms. The CofE has never been indifferent to the fullness of the sign. Our doctrine claims simply to be an expression of biblical teaching.
As many current church leaders have seen, a gentle sprinkle doesn’t meet the cultural moment. People of all ages are coming forward in growing numbers to be received into the church, having felt the urge to read a Bible or visit a church and then unexpectedly met the risen Jesus. That is why we offer baptism by immersion at Emmanuel. More than 60 people have engaged with our recent Alpha courses. An increasing number wish to be baptised or to reaffirm the vows that were taken on their behalf. Our first recent immersions were conducted by Bishop James at Easter 2025, and we have since continued to follow that path.
Explore baptism
Our next planned baptism service is at 10.30am on Sunday 10th January. If you would like to explore baptism, you’re welcome to speak to Peter or me.
