Baptism by immersion

So when the Christian Faith came to England, the first Baptisms were in the open air in streams, and the candidates, like the Ethiopian, went into the water and allowed it to cover them completely for a moment or two.  This is called Baptism by immersion or dipping.  In early English history it is recorded that on Christmas Day in the year 597 AD, St Augustine baptised around 10,000 new Christians in the Swale in Kent. (1)  The Swale is the stretch of water that separates the Isle of Sheppey from the mainland of north Kent.

Baptism by affusion

Later, when churches were built and Baptisms were administered at the font, the water was poured on the foreheads of the candidates.  This is called Baptism by affusion or pouring.  No doubt it was also administered in this way in the times of the Apostles.  For example, when St Paul and St Silas were at a place called Philippi, they were severely flogged and then imprisoned and put into the dungeons where their legs were fastened in the stocks.  At midnight, when they were singing hymns in the darkness there was an earthquake which rocked the prison so that the doors burst open, and the prisoners’ chains came away from the walls.  The jailor, who was responsible for the prisoners with his life, was about to commit suicide, thinking they had all escaped, but Paul shouted out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here”. (NRSV, Acts 16:28).  The jailor called for lights and rushed in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  He brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (NRSV, Acts 16:30,31).  Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his house.  The jailor washed their wounds and he and his whole family were baptised straightaway.  Since the whole family was baptised indoors that night, they must have been baptised by affusion and not by immersion, that is, by pouring and not by dipping.

Baptisms today in this country are usually by affusion.