In the early centuries, cathedrals were huge, and bishops used them to baptize all catechumens. These churches often included a baptismal font and performed the rite three times per year, often on holy days. These church baptistries were generally not attached to parish churches, and they served as the central location for a church's baptismal ceremonies. However, there were cases when they were attached to cathedrals.According to the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Church Profile, baptisms have declined for eight of the past 10 years, falling by 100,000 since 2009.
The SBC's statistics are based on data from 76% of its constituent churches. The latest data show that 246,442 baptisms took place in 2013, down from 349,725 in 2009. In 1972, the number of reported baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention was at its highest: 445,725.Some churches decide to replace their existing baptistries with collapsible baptistries instead. These are cheaper to buy from the steeple manufacturer but require more maintenance. If your church's baptistry has developed leaks, a resurfacing service can quickly fix the problem. With little downtime, little or no preparation is required on your part, and the baptistry will look brand new in no time.
In addition to installing proper insulation and ductwork, churches must also ensure that the baptistry is safe for people to enter. They should avoid using metal, as it can easily be deadly. For example, a pastor who opted for a baptistry in his church was electrocuted after accidentally touching a microphone. But these tragedies don't happen often. Churches should ensure that they hire licensed electricians and plumbers. Using ground-fault interrupters on any plugs near the baptistry is another precaution to ensure safety.
In ancient churches, the history of baptism was recorded in mosaics, paintings, and mortar. Moreover, ancient church baptistries include paintings in catacombs, mosaics on floors, and sculptured reliefs. Drawings of Christian baptism in New Testament manuscripts raise interesting questions that need further investigation. In addition, the baptistries of early Christianity were often built in areas where water was scarce and Christians were hounded by imperial persecution.
Get a general overview of the topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeple.
