Vicar prepares to baptise 13 siblings in one ceremony

Tony Luckcock has got a busy day ahead of him on Sunday, when he will be baptising all 13 of Tom and Stacy Shaw's children. The brood ranges from ten months to 15 years old and, although Mr and Mrs Shaw were never Christened, they want their family to become part of the church community. ‘Maybe he will use a hosepipe or a watering can,’ joked Mr Shaw, 34.

He met his wife when he was 18 and she was 20. Their first child was Shannon, now 15, followed by Adam, 14, Ryan, 13, Kelsey, 12, Franky, ten, Leo, nine, Laura, eight, Keenan, six, Cody and Madison, both five, Kaydn, four, Tyler, two, and ten-month-old Keavy.



The couple married in 2004. ‘We said six children would be nice but I didn’t think we meant six each,’ said Mr Shaw.

Mr Luckcuck, who is the vicar of St John’s in Bakersfield, Nottingham, said he was delighted to be asked to baptise the youngsters. ‘Having 13 children in this day and age is so rare. It’s really rather lovely and they are a lovely family too,’ he added.