More than 80 people publicly declared their faith in Jesus Christ as 20 churches from across Rotherham and the surrounding area came together for a landmark public baptism celebration at Manvers Lake on Sunday.
Hosted by Liberty Church Rotherham, the second annual event brought together hundreds of people from across the borough for an afternoon of baptisms, live music, free food and family activities, demonstrating the growing unity of churches across the region.
The day was led by Pastor Adrian Dexter, who launched the initiative in 2025 with a vision of bringing churches together in a public expression of faith and unity.
The event marked a significant increase from the inaugural public baptism held at the same location in 2025. More churches participated this year, reflecting a growing desire among local congregations to work together and serve their communities.
Throughout the afternoon, 80 people entered the lake to be baptised in front of their friends and families, publicly declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Many also shared powerful personal testimonies, speaking openly about how their lives had been transformed through faith in Jesus Christ.
The celebrations continued as the Gospel message was shared with those gathered, with eight people making the decision to give their hearts to Jesus Christ during the event.
One of the memorable moments of the afternoon centred around a woman whose life changed dramatically over the course of the weekend.
She shared publicly that although she had believed herself to be a Christian for many years, she had realised she had simply been "pretending." During Liberty Church Rotherham Youth on the Friday evening before the baptism event, two youth leaders had prayed with her and spoken words of faith and encouragement over her life.
According to her testimony, those conversations stayed with her throughout the weekend. She later explained that she was unable to sleep, feeling deeply challenged by what had been shared and increasingly convinced that she needed to make a genuine decision to follow Jesus.
Standing before the crowd at Manvers Lake, she openly declared that she had now placed her faith in Christ and had truly given her life to Jesus. After speaking personally with the two youth leaders who prayed with and encouraged her, she ran into the lake and was baptised alongside the others. Her testimony prompted cheers and celebration from those gathered around the lakeside.
Another unforgettable story came from Pastor Dexter's own family.
Pastor Dexter had asked his son on a number of occasions whether he felt ready to be baptised. Each time, his son honestly replied that he wasn't ready to take that step of faith, and Adrian respected his decision, believing that baptism should always be a personal choice made at the right time.
Then, on the morning of the mass baptism, his son approached him and said he was ready and wanted to be baptised.
Later that afternoon, Pastor Dexter had the privilege of baptising his own son in front of hundreds of people gathered at Manvers Lake. As he came up out of the water, the lakeside erupted with cheers, applause and celebration. It became one of the day's most moving moments, beautifully illustrating that faith is a personal decision made from the heart and not something that can ever be rushed or pressured into.
Beyond the baptisms, the event created a welcoming community festival atmosphere. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed a free community BBQ, children's games, an ice cream van and live worship music throughout the afternoon, creating a space where families, friends and neighbours could come together and celebrate.
The event also welcomed Christians Against Poverty (CAP), who hosted a community information stand throughout the afternoon. Their team spoke with visitors about the charity's work supporting people facing debt and financial hardship, highlighting practical ways local churches and charities are bringing support and hope to people across the region.
The youth and young adults from Liberty Church Rotherham also played an active role by raising money for future mission projects through the sale of bottled water and fresh watermelon. The community responded generously, helping the youth move significantly closer to their fundraising goals and future outreach opportunities.
The significance of the day also attracted local media attention, with journalists from the local BBC attending to cover the event and showcase the growing unity of churches across Rotherham and the positive impact being made through the Liberty Churches and the wider Christian community. Their presence reflected the significance of these impactful gatherings and helped share stories of faith, hope and transformed lives with a wider audience.
The annual public baptism has quickly become one of the largest visible expressions of Christian unity in South Yorkshire, bringing together churches from different backgrounds with a shared desire to serve their communities and celebrate lives being transformed through faith.
As the event drew to a close, there was a strong sense that something significant had taken place. From the 80 people baptised in the lake, to the eight new decisions to follow Jesus, to the stories of personal transformation shared throughout the day, the gathering reflected a growing movement of churches working together across Rotherham.
Organisers hope the event will continue to grow in the years ahead, welcoming even more churches and members of the public to experience a day of faith, hope, community and celebration together.
