IT was when Rob Bond decided to read the Bible, that he had a moment that defined him. 

As he read about Christ in the New Testament, everything suddenly made sense.It was the culmination of years spent reading and reflecting on science, creation and morality, which ultimately led to a conviction that the Christian faith was true. And this journey took place almost entirely by himself.

“There was a defining moment when everything made sense as I read the Gospels,” said Rob. “I found myself assenting to belief, at a point where everything I had studied coincided in the person of Jesus Christ. It was like a veil being removed.”

Finding faith alone might sound unusual, but these experiences seem to be happening more frequently. It’sperhaps part of what is being described as the ‘Quiet Revival’ - where God appears to be working independently to bring people to faith.

Rob, who is now 32, hadn’t grown up in a Christian family. His background was in science, and he studied elements of various sciences when he was younger, and this continued and developed as time went on. His journey towards faith began roughly 6 years ago, as he began to study science history in more depth, and noticed how the development of science and religion coincided together. A more intense study into this relationship began when he left his position as a science teacher in 2024.

“A lot of people say that science and faith are in conflict, but that wasn’t what the study of history, reveals,” he said. “They seem to depend on each other. There was a real logic in the idea that there must be a Creator – existence makes little or no sense without one”.

“I looked into morality, into what our consciences are pointing us towards, and there are certain things that are unexplainable without a God – such as true love, which is something that you can’t touch or feel, but is absolutely real”

“I decided to study the Bible, and first picked it up last year. And everything that I was feeling was true seemed to be confirmed when I was reading the Scriptures”

“The conviction that this was true became stronger, and there was this real moment of something awakening in me. I read Mark 4:39, where Jesus says ‘Peace, Be still’ to the storm, and it felt as if all the separate elements I had been studying all came together, a moment of real clarity”

“As I’m someone who tries to be as objective and reasoned as I can with these sorts of things, it required a long period of self-study, and from that, it became clear that everything I’d previously studied in the various sciences, history, and morality, all came together in the Christian faith. Theology has been referred to as the Science of God, and I certainly feel this to be the case. Absolutely nothing that I’d studied previously seemed to be conflict with the Christian faith.”

Once he found faith, Rob went on to be baptised at St James Church, and applied to become one of the Vergers at Chichester Cathedral, a role which involves preparing the building for worship and leading liturgical processions with a ceremonial rod, called a Verge. “I’m part of a brilliant team there and learning more about Church life and operations every day,” he said.

Throughout this entire time of developmentRob’s wife Georgia has been nothing but incredibly supportive, and regularly have discussions about various aspects that he has been studying. Rob is incredibly grateful to always have Georgia & their son, Tommy, at his side. Rob also has regular meetings with the rector of Warblington with Emsworth Parish, the Rev Andrew Sheard, who helpedprepare him both for his Baptism last April, and Confirmation in November.

Bishop Jonathan then confirmed Rob in November, at St James Church along with eight other adults and four young people.

Rob understood this to mark his commitment to being part of the Church of England. “I felt drawn to be in church, to feel bonded to others in the Body of Christ,” he said. “Being baptised at the font was a special moment, and I see confirmation to be a real moment of public declaration and belief in the Church of England.”

Prior to confirmation I felt it very important to know and understand, not only why I was being confirmed, but why I was being confirmed in the Church of England. Though only being able to but touch on subjects such as church history, church formularies, and church doctrine over the past year, through study I discovered that the Church of England, despite all Her controversies, blemishes, and various schools of thought, at Her heart, She holds, professes, and teaches, the true faith of Christ.

I shall end with the words I uttered to myself moments after being confirmed by the bishop, “Now, truly am I a Son, of the Church of England”