About Us

30th September 2025

Salt and Light Bindery started from a hobby and is developing into something bordering professional. We're here to see if we can make it into a financially viable non profit organisation - one where all the proceeds are donated as we see need, both locally and internationally.

I'd been a fairly lukewarm christian most of my life but I started to get serious about following Christ and part of that was a challenge to read my bible in a significant manner each day. Others were giving their lives in the persecuted church and here I was making excuses why I couldn't read the bible. I found it hard to be honest, and it was about a month in before I realised I loved starting my day getting into the word. My life was transforming for the better and I found myself not looking at it like it was a chore but genuinely loving reading through in a systematic way. 

Purely as an indulgence I wanted to buy a hand made leather bible that was a bit different and rustic. I found I couldn't find any of this type in New Zealand so I looked overseas, where I came across a fine leather bound bible complete with my name on it. It came from the good people at Narrow Gate Leather (who are still making them). I'm still very happy with this bible but purely as a hobby, I started learning the art of book binding (exciting stuff!) - with the aim of doing a few for my kids and perhaps friends if they were any good. The first ones I made were just old Gospel of John tracts which I ripped apart and rebound, and to be honest they were pretty terrible but the kids pretended to like them and I managed to laser engrave their names on them. I learnt heaps in the process.

I suspect it got more serious when I found I needed a new laser engraver and realised my wife probably wouldn't indulge such an imprudent purchase unless there was a more lofty goal than simply being a hobby. If someone had told me how much there is to endpaper selection, grain direction, leather thicknesses and temper and that there are at least 20 individual processes in it, I'm not sure I'd have bothered, but secretly I enjoy it. Many iterations later, many stuffed up, crooked and broken bibles I'm now very confident in the end product and it is a beautiful end product. I'm afraid to say some bibles were harmed in the process.

So this brings me to now. Our family has been incredibly blessed with a nice income from our regular jobs so I don't feel we need any of the proceeds and instead would like to give them away. Currently there is a 20 week delay in the processing of applications to the Charities Commission in New Zealand (I am a fairly impatient man with an aversion for paperwork). As such I have decided to start it now and see if there is a demand from people such as yourself. People who wish to part with $200 or so of their hard earned money, to buy a handbound bible and support some need.

Currently Salt and Light Bindery is set up as a sole trader business and any profits (I wont be taking any wages either) will be donated to local causes, individuals in one off need, churches and internationally as we see wisdom to give. If you buy a bible, feel free to let us know people that could use some help. I can't promise to accept your recommendation, but it's much appreciated. Our preference is small and simple organisations with limited layers between those running them and the need itself. If this, proves successful I'll publish where and what percentages we donated annually.

If this is something that speaks to you I would be honoured to bless you with a relatively expensive but beautifully handmade bible from yours truly. If you can't afford it, or it wouldn't be prudent for you to spend on such an indulgence, please consider talking about us to a friend, hinting for a birthday present or simply supporting us on socials. Lastly, go out and buy yourself a cheap bible in the meantime and start your own journey.

Bless you and thank you for all your support

Josh

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 3:20-21