When Revd Anne Brown asked the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, to oversee clergy from Pydar Deanery as they reaffirmed their baptism vows, he was delighted to agree.

His only condition was that he should join them and reaffirm his vows alongside them in the sea at Perranporth.

And so it happened that a small group found themselves heading into the surf – the forecast storms had failed to materialise, the clouds lifted and a small patch of blue sky was even visible.

Bishop Philip and Anne were joined in the water by Revd Chris McQuillen-Wright, Revd Helen Baber and Revd Elke Deeley. And watching on from the sand was Revd Jem Thorold.

Anne said: “As incumbent members of a very small deanery, we have close, supportive working relationships and in one of our regular weekly gatherings, someone, whose name escapes us now, suggested that as a chapter it would be good to dedicate ourselves to our combined journey in Christ through a reaffirmation of our baptismal vows.

“Somehow that then ended up as a trip to the seaside, to give thanks to God for all that has been, for all that is and for all that is yet to be, as together we trust in God and go forward in our shared ministry.”