‘Dumbed down’ baptism criticised

The Church of England has been accused of “dumbing down” the baptism service, one of the cornerstones of the faith, by changing its wording so parents and godparents no longer have to “repent sins” and “reject the devil”.

A trial of the new wording, aimed at making it easier to understand, will last in parishes until Easter.

Former bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali, writing in The Mail on Sunday, branded it as part of the “constant dumbing down of Christian teaching” rather than making an effort to explain the meaning of baptism.