“I believe it profoundly altered my perspective on life, highlighting the significance of health and wellbeing, reminding me not to take these for granted, and encouraging me to cherish every moment.”

I find myself seated in Southwark Cathedral alongside its bishop, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, as he reflects on the transformative night that altered his existence.

Last September, the taxi he was in suddenly came to an unexpected stop, but he did not. He collided forcefully with the interior of the taxi, shattering every bone in his face except for the lower jaw.

“After the accident, I essentially had no face,” he recounts. “The extent of my injuries was far-reaching; initially, I was oblivious to them, only aware of my face disintegrating.”

The Rt Rev Chessun was swiftly transported to St Thomas’ Hospital and then to a specialized maxillofacial trauma team at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill, southeast London.

Leading the team that night was Professor Kathy Fan, and the bishop vividly remembers their initial exchange.

“She mentioned, ‘Your face is like cornflakes,’ but she assured me that my airbag had safeguarded my skull, brain, and neck. She said, ‘It’s my responsibility to reconstruct it’… and that became her mission.”

Professor Fan informed him that she aimed to carry out the repairs in a single lengthy surgery. While it would be complex, her objective was clear.

“What she told me was: ‘When I perform this, I don’t want people to look at you and question what’s different. I want them to focus on what you are saying because you’re a bishop.’

“That instilled immense trust and confidence in me; her skills, expertise, wisdom, and experience all played a vital role and alleviated my sense of trauma.”

In a conversation with the BBC, Professor Fan explained that both of his eye sockets were injured, his entire left cheekbone had sagged, and his upper jaw was precariously hanging. The majority of the bones in his face were shattered.

She was determined to have the bishop back to work before the hectic Christmas season and commended her entire team’s efforts.

“I have a truly remarkable job,” she expressed. “It’s an honor to work on people’s faces; they place their trust in us.

“We possess the ability to help restore individuals who have unfortunately suffered injuries.

“Our faces are a representation of our identity – people observe us and form judgments, so it’s essential to restore that personal identity.”

There were times when Bishop Chessun questioned whether he would be able to return to his duties, but three months later, just ahead of Christmas, he was back at Southwark Cathedral.

His face, now secured with numerous pins and plates, sparks a question about whether he sees himself as the ‘bionic bishop.’

“Something along those lines, I guess,” he chuckles, reminiscing about a recent visit to the Holy Land when he worried his face might trigger an alarm at security checkpoints. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Nine months later, he is almost fully healed and speaks highly of the medical professionals who restored his face.

“People engage with you through your face – it’s a fundamental aspect of connection, so having a recognizable facial identity is critically important.

“I truly believe that the support I received from the prayers of my diocese, those familiar with me, and those who cared made a significant impact.

“It contributed not only to my morale but also to my confidence and sense of wellbeing. Deep down, I felt that everything would turn out well.”