WHEN her husband bought her a Bible for Christmas, Susan Hayles just started reading – and discovered she couldn’t put it down.

The 46-year-old nurse had never been interested in religion, and had only come to church for weddings and funerals. But when her husband Steve gave her a Study Bible last Christmas, she couldn’t resist picking it up. She started with John’s Gospel on Boxing Day and found herself in tears as she read about Jesus’s death for the first time.

After a couple of weeks, she got in touch with St Luke’s Church, Southsea, and asked to join the congregation. More recently, she was baptised as a mark of her new Christian commitment.

“I work as a staff nurse at a local hospital,” said Susan. “Last summer I was looking after an elderly patient. She told me she had four sons called Matthew, Mark, Luke – and said I could guess the name of the fourth. But I didn’t know – I’d never heard the names of the four gospels.

“I was so embarrassed because it was something from the Bible, but I didn’t have a clue about it. I told Steve when I went home and he remembered. We often give each other one random present each Christmas, so last Christmas he gave me a NIV Study Bible. I laughed when I got it!

“I kept looking at it, but I didn’t know where to begin. I looked online and it suggested John’s gospel, so that’s where I started on Boxing Day. I started to read it and I haven’t put it down since!

“I have been so engrossed and the stories have really come alive. When I read about Jesus being crucified, I was in tears. I’d never been moved by a book like that before. I had started reading it just like any other book, but it jumped out at me and meant so much.”

Susan had been baptised in a C of E church as a baby, so she decided to look online for a C of E church. She came across the website for St Luke’s Church in Southsea and sent a tentative email asking the vicar if she could turn up on Sunday.

“It was the photos of people that convinced me,” said Susan. “They looked like ordinary people, and I thought I would fit in.”

The vicar, the Rev Annie McCabe, couldn’t quite believe it when she read Susan’s email, but reassured her that she would be looking out for Susan that Sunday. Annie sat Susan next to a regular worshipper who was able to talk her through everything that was happening in the service.

“I was really nervous,” said Susan. “But Allen, who I sat next to, had been to church all his life and set me at ease. I’ve been coming ever since.

“I’ve kept on reading the Bible, and probably read about 90 per cent of it now. I read a Psalm and Proverb each day, and I write down verses that mean a lot to me in my journal. I have a devotional time each morning and that sets me up for the day.”

Susan had also never prayed before, but began and was encouraged by Annie. A few weeks later, Annie suggested keeping a prayer journal. To her surprise, Susan had already started one. She now writes down her prayers, insights from her readings and reasons to give thanks.