On Sunday, 21st September, following the 11am Mass at St Collen’s Church, parishioners and friends gathered for a very special event: the full-immersion baptism of Dylan in the flowing waters of the River Dee, Llangollen.
The congregation processed together from the church down to the riverbank, where a wooden cross was placed in the water, marking it as the sacred font for the day. The service drew deeply from ancient Christian traditions, seeking to recover the richness and beauty of baptism as it was practised in the earliest centuries of the Church.
Fr Lee explained, “In most churches today, baptism has been simplified – a drop of water, a touch of oil, a small taste of sweetness. These are beautiful symbols, but they are faint echoes of the vivid, all-encompassing celebrations of the early Church. Today, we wanted to give Dylan, and everyone witnessing, a glimpse of that fullness.”
A Journey Through Ancient Rituals
The service began with Dylan turning first to face west, the direction of the setting sun — a symbol of darkness and evil — and renouncing sin and all that separates us from God. This dramatic action reflects the 4th-century practice described by St Cyril of Jerusalem, who compared it to the Israelites fleeing Pharaoh and crossing the Red Sea. Dylan then turned east, towards the rising sun, to declare his faith in Christ and the new life he was about to receive.
Next came the anointing with holy oil, inspired by ancient baptismal traditions in Milan and Antioch. Dylan was anointed on his forehead, ears, shoulders, and hands, each action carrying rich meaning: the mind dedicated to Christ, the ears opened to hear God’s word, the shoulders strengthened to carry Christ’s yoke, and the hands set apart to serve God and others.
Fr Lee reflected, “In the early centuries, candidates were anointed like athletes before a contest or soldiers preparing for battle. This wasn’t just a symbolic act — it was a powerful reminder that living out our baptism takes courage and strength.”
The Plunge into New Life
The heart of the service came as Dylan was lowered fully into the waters of the River Dee — the ancient meaning of the word baptism, which comes from the Greek baptizein, “to plunge” or “to immerse.” Rising again from the river, dripping with water, he embodied the image of dying and rising with Christ, cleansed and reborn.
As he emerged, the congregation sang ancient baptismal hymns, echoing the words of 4th-century poet Ephrem of Edessa, who described angels and heavenly beings rejoicing when someone is baptised, welcoming them into God’s family.
Signs of Welcome and Belonging
Once back on the riverbank, Dylan received a post-baptismal anointing with perfumed oil, known as the fragrant seal, and was clothed in white, symbolising purity and new life.
Finally, he was given a taste of milk and honey, a tradition stretching back to the early Church, signifying entry into the Promised Land and the sweetness of new life in Christ.
Fr Lee shared, “This beautiful gesture connects us with Christians across the centuries. It reminds us that baptism isn’t just about washing away the past — it’s about entering into a life of joy and promise.”
A Living Link to the Past
The entire service was a moving blend of history and living faith. Drawing on sources from Jerusalem, Verona, Milan, Antioch, and Edessa, these ancient practices were brought to life on the banks of the River Dee in a way that was both deeply symbolic and strikingly immediate.
Fr Lee concluded, “Baptism is not only an earthly act but also a heavenly celebration. It’s a moment when the whole Church — past, present, and even the angels — gathers to rejoice. To witness that here, in our own community, was incredibly powerful.”
As the congregation returned to St Collen’s Church, there was a profound sense of having taken part in something both timeless and transformative — a reminder that the ancient rituals of the Church still have the power to speak with freshness and joy today.
