091 - Chapter 91

(Illustration: St Cuthbert’s Island at Lindsifarne)

Our small group of believers at Church of the Good Shepherd, who had been studying the Christian faith through the Alpha course, and who had become such good friends, were due to  be baptised on the island of Lindisfarne, otherwise known as Holy Island, in July 2019.

This beautiful, mystical island in Northumberland, just off the North-East coast, is one of the most important centres of early English Christianity. It was the holiest site of Anglo-Saxon history, and still is a place of pilgrimage. The first monastery was founded by St Aidan in the year 634 AD. and monks who were trained there became missionaries throughout England.

Lindisfarne is also associated with the life of St Cuthbert, and it’s one of my favourite places.

The particular baptism was a special event organised by the Diocese of Newcastle, and the officiant was Bishop Mark Tanner, who was assistant Bishop of Newcastle at the time. He had invited every priest from the churches represented there, who were responsible for their candidates, to accompany him in the baptism process, and join him in the water. I could hardly believe it, this was such a privilege, for this was the very beginning of each one’s journey into faith and new life.

I had said to Bob on the morning of their baptism, “The sun is going to come out when they get baptised today!” I just knew it was, even though the outlook was poor, and the sky was covered with heavy grey clouds. He wasn’t so hopeful. 

“The forecast is dull”, he replied.

During our Alpha course, our candidates had all been marvellous students, thirsty for knowledge and eager to learn. They had seen the Jesus film in their own country, and the Alpha Course here, was their way of finding out more about the Christian faith in this country. We used Alpha videos, which were subtitled in their own language.

St Cuthbert’s Island is a small island located just off Holy Island, and not far away from it was a little inlet, the ideal place for our candidates to be baptised by full immersion, albeit in the very cold North Sea.

When the baptism service started on the shore, the sky was still overcast, but as the hymns and readings progressed, a tiny chink of blue sky appeared above us. When the time came for us to go down to the sea, and our first candidate went into the water, the sun burst through the clouds, just like I had said it would! 

Wow!

Each candidate came forward one at a time, and each one went down bravely into the freezing water, symbolising a death to their old life; and they burst upwards for breath to their new life, soaked to the skin, but full of joy and laughter, that is after their initial shock. To be there on the spot though, watching it all happen, is such a joy for a priest, rather like being right there as a couple get married. You can see ‘up close’, expressions, emotions and tears!

The cold water didn’t seem so cold after a while, we forgot about it, and amazingly a group of seals were spotted popping their heads up out of the water to see what was going on!

What a brilliant way to get baptised.

One friend who accompanied us that day, who did not get baptised had been our translator throughout Alpha with regard to questions and answers, and he was so happy for everyone too. It was a truly wonderful day. We ladies, got ourselves dried off in the vicarage, the men in the lifeboat station, and afterwards we all ate our packed lunches together on the beach, right opposite St Cuthbert’s Island.

It was such a pleasure being with them on their journey of faith, when becoming a Christian and becoming baptised was so important to them.

I invite you to all listen here to Carol Dixon's  'Holy Island ' hymn:

      https://youtu.be/1f91H3RtIzI?si=hcqfo6oz_vOLdOg9

and also to this wonderful poem by Albert Ward

  Lindisfarne

What is it draws me to this place

Where hallowed saints once trod;

Where centuries of years were spent

In reverence to God?

What is it calls me year by year

To rest and bide awhile;

To drink the beauty and the peace

Of this holy isle?

It could be dunes of sand so soft

Upon the travellers’ feet;

Or sight of bird and rabbit

Which one is sure to meet.

Perhaps the glow of setting sun

‘Gainst castles, isles and hills;

All treasured things of beauty

With which my memory fills.

Yes, these are things that call me

O’er the causeway’s mighty ford;

But most of all what draws me

Is the presence of the Lord.

© Albert Ward