A seven year old boy has been baptised in Coniston Water after telling his vicar that his best friend is Jesus.

It comes after Joshua Mason from Allithwaite told his parents Andrea and Chris - who is a Network Youth Church leader – that he wanted to be christened.

He was expecting to follow in his elder brother Samuel’s footsteps and have a full body immersion baptism in the pool at the Abbot Hall Christian hotel and conference centre near Grange-over-Sands.

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But instead the Rev. Rachel Stavert, team vicar for the Cartmel Peninsula Team, suggested a trip out to Coniston.

“I asked Joshua why he wanted to be baptised and he told me ‘Because I love Jesus and He is my best friend’," said Ms Stavert. "Then I said: ‘Well I suppose you will want the full works won’t you!’ He was thrilled when I said we’d do the baptism in Coniston Water.

“What made it even more special was that so many people came along on the day to support Joshua and all his family. In fact there were so many of us there that a few passers-by were stopping to ask what was happening.”

More than 40 people from St Mary’s Parish Church, Allithwaite, joined Joshua’s family and school friends for the outdoor baptism, which was preceded by an afternoon picnic by the lake at which Samuel led singing on his guitar and then there was group swim.

“The water was really cold and when I came out I was blue but I’m really glad I did it," said Joshua. "I asked to be baptised because I believe that God is with us all the time, I believe in Jesus and that He is my best friend.”

His dad, Chris, who was able to help Rachel during the baptism, said: “It was a phenomenal feeling to be a part of it. Words can’t describe what it felt like really and it was made even more special by that fact that this was Joshua’s decision and his declaration of faith.”