A new type of Christianity – more militant, more political – is on the rise. But some in the Church of England claim this is a “corruption” of their faith.

Bishop Ceirion Dewar rejects the Church of England as heretics. Instead, he gathers his flock under a gloomy sky on a beach in Cornwall.

More than 20 people answered the call he made on social media – one wears a T-shirt saying Jesus is King.

Wearing a white robe over a wetsuit, Dewar strides down the beach and prepares for a mass baptism.

His voice booms out: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I gladly baptise you!”

Critics call Dewar “the far-right bishop” – a label he rejects.

But he does represent a new type of Christianity – more militant, more political – and one that is on the rise.

Several of those here came because they saw Dewar preaching fire and brimstone at Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march on 13 September.

And they are ready to follow him into the cold waters of the Celtic Sea. One by one, he blesses them, then plunges them under the waves. Afterwards, they hug. Some are euphoric.

Fergus Worrall drove from Bristol with his girlfriend Louise French; both were baptised.

“I saw Ceirion’s speech at the Unite the Kingdom rally, and it was just epic,” Worrall says. “I mean, I just loved it.”

Worrall says he used to be “fairly lefty”. After trying Buddhism and New Age practices, he came to Christianity. But Dewar’s appeal is not just religious – online he decries immigration and the influence of Islam, a message that “chimed”.

“We are a Christian culture, a Christian nation. And I do feel like we have lost a lot of that.”

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