A chill wind was blowing as 27 people, including seven-year-old Rosie McLeish and one candidate who was six months pregnant, made a commitment to Christianity by being baptised in a tank of cold water in front of hundreds of onlookers outside the Church of St Michael-le-
Belfrey, next to York Minster.

The candidates for baptism were from St Michael-le-Belfrey, St Edward's, churches in Huntington, New Earswick and Clifton, the Ark Church and Elim Pentecostal Church. They were joined by baby Theo James Lachlan McGonigle who was christened by Dr Sentamu. Shivering after the ceremony, Marion Taylor, 30, said: "I thought it would be even colder when I saw the snow this morning, but it was brilliant."

The baptisms were organised by One Voice York, a network of Christian churches and leaders of different denominations working together across the city. Each candidate was baptised by the Archbishop and a representative of their own church. Some opted for only one immersion but others, like Stephane Sitayeb, asked to be baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Dr Sentamu, who plunged each candidate beneath the water, said: "It is a most humbling and yet exciting experience. Jesus was baptised in a similar way by John the Baptist... To be baptised like this at Easter is fantastic. Being totally immersed and baptised in the name of theFather, the Son and the Holy Spirit symbolises dying and rising to new life in Christ."