Archbishop of Canterbury Baptising at the Abbey

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, is to baptise 17 people, at a service of celebration in the grounds of Malmesbury Abbey. (See below)

On Saturday September 13^th at 4pm, as part of a three-day visit to the Diocese of Bristol, the Archbishop will be speaking at an outdoor service in the Abbey grounds and then baptising 17 adults and young people by immersion in a baptismal pool. For many this marks the beginning of a journey of faith, for some this is a return to the Christian faith and a reaffirmation of an earlier baptism or christening.

This will be a really significant day on a number of levels. This is a celebration of historic links between Canterbury and Malmesbury, it's also a genuine once in a lifetime community occasion, and it's a fresh declaration of the Christian faith, a faith that has been alive and well in our community for over 1,300 years.

We know that Malmesbury Abbey’s founder, St Aldhelm, studied with Hadrian in Canterbury in the 7^th century, and we know that pilgrims from Canterbury and elsewhere used to travel to Malmesbury to study with the monks here and use the famous Abbey library; in fact the Old Bell Hotel was originally built by Abbot Walter Loring in the 13^th century to house the many visitors. So it feels like the Archbishop is treading a pretty ancient path, albeit via the M4 and the A429.

I’ve also asked many of our local historians whether the Archbishop of Canterbury has visited Malmesbury in modern times and nobody can point to any visit at all in the last few hundred years, so this is a very notable event for the people of North Wiltshire.

And for the friends, family and communities of those being baptised this will be a moving personal moment and a great celebration. God is at work in all our lives, and our services of baptism and confirmation allow us to gather as a church and say 'look at the good thing God is doing.'

All are welcome to what is an un-ticketed event, to be held inside the Abbey if wet. After the service concludes, at about 5.30pm, the evening will continue with bouncy castles, live music, a hog roast, an Indian buffet and a bar.

Then church the following day!