Joann Carver, 73, claims she was refused baptism at a Cambridgeshire church
A woman has alleged her church refused to baptise her due to her being transgender. Joann Carver, 73, became a member of her local church in April 2022, and requested baptism in June 2024.
However, despite completing a pre-baptism ‘alpha’ course, Joann claims she was informed in June 2025 that she could not be baptised at the Lighthouse Church in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
A week afterwards, Joann’s partner, Hannah Davis, 57, alleges a pastor told her Joann could receive baptism if she ‘wore trousers and grew a beard’.
A spokesperson for the church told the Metro ‘we do not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation’.
Joann and Hannah have subsequently joined the community at Renew Inclusive Church in Cambridge, where Joann was baptised on 26 October 2025.
Joann, from Ely, Cambs, an actor who has appeared in The Bill, Holby City and Doctors, said: “Lighthouse Church have made me feel inhuman, and ashamed to be me. That was one of the lowest points of my life: I went home in floods of tears. I felt like I’d had a sledgehammer hurled at my head.”
Joann said she recognised from an early age that she was female: she didn’t enjoy boys’ games and wished to wear girls’ clothing. She came out in spring 2017, and changed her name by deed poll from John in October.
Twelve months later, she began hormone therapy and underwent gender-affirming surgery in February 2022.
Joann and Hannah, a member of the Lighthouse Church for 21 years, met on the Pink Cupid app in December 2021. Joann, who shared her account via Sell Us Your Story, said: “I was agnostic before my operation. Hannah prayed for me throughout the procedure, and when I woke, I felt no pain, so I knew her prayers had been answered, and that’s how I found God.”
Joann was invited to attend the pre-baptism course and said she felt ‘really hurt’ when the other five participants received baptism at its conclusion.
She volunteered for baptism in June 2025, when the church called for volunteers, and the head pastor requested a private conversation, she said. Joann alleged the pastor told her she was living in sin as a woman with Hannah.
A church spokesperson said: “As a Christian community we affirm the historic and biblical teaching that sex is biological and a good gift from God,” the Metro reported.
The pastor said he hadn’t witnessed sufficient change in Joann, she said. A week later, Hannah enquired what change would be necessary, and the pastor responded that Joann would need to wear trousers and grow a beard, Joann alleges.
She said: “I had a tough life believing I was mad, and it was such a relief to come out. The Lighthouse Church do such a lot of great work.
“I just hoped they’d extend some of their generosity to me, but they’ve left me feeling really, really hurt. I’ve barely been able to leave the house since they told Hannah I’d have to wear trousers and grow a beard.
“For over two years, they made me feel welcome, and within a week made me feel like dirt.”
Joann and Hannah departed from the Lighthouse Church and became members of the Renew Inclusive Church. Joann was baptised at Saffron Walden Baptist Church on October 26.
“It feels fabulous: I’m still buzzing from it”, she said.
The Lighthouse Church has been contacted for comment.
In a previous statement to The Metro, a Lighthouse Church spokesperson said: “In accordance with our calling as Christians and belief in biblical truth, Lighthouse Church welcomes all people and is committed to treating everyone with love, dignity, and respect as humans made in the image of god.
“We are aware of the concerns raised, but we do not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation as described. Our leaders acted in good faith and with sincere pastoral intent throughout.”




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