God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, from Balfour to Blair
'Mark Vickers has given us a wonderful new reference book of the beliefs (and non-beliefs) of 20th-century PMs - a meaty volume that can also be consumed as a social history of British religion.' THE TELEGRAPH

'This carefully researched and well-written study reveals the religious faith of our Prime Ministers, or lack of it, in vivid colours. Prepare to be shocked and surprised as the author lays bare their souls.' SIR ANTHONY SELDON

Mark Vickers' acclaimed volume on the faith of the twentieth-century Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on these holders of the highest political office in the realm. While there are biographies aplenty on the 18 men and 1 woman who took up residence behind the famous black door, it is notable that that many of these works fail to reflect an important – sometimes the most important - aspect of the life of their subject.

God in Number 10 rectifies this omission, offering intriguing insights into Margaret Thatcher's legendary 'Sermon on the Mound', Tony Blair's perception of Jesus as a modernizer, Arthur Balfour's recourse to spiritualism, Stanley Baldwin's mystical experiences, and Winston Churchill's involvement with astrology. The book considers the role of religion generally in the political classes of the period, the reasons for the declining influence of faith in the public forum, and the relationship between Church and State.

The families of H. H. Asquith, Bonar Law, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson have all expressed their support for God in Number 10 and, where able, helped in the research, while John Major has assisted fully.

1141693239
God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, from Balfour to Blair
'Mark Vickers has given us a wonderful new reference book of the beliefs (and non-beliefs) of 20th-century PMs - a meaty volume that can also be consumed as a social history of British religion.' THE TELEGRAPH

'This carefully researched and well-written study reveals the religious faith of our Prime Ministers, or lack of it, in vivid colours. Prepare to be shocked and surprised as the author lays bare their souls.' SIR ANTHONY SELDON

Mark Vickers' acclaimed volume on the faith of the twentieth-century Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on these holders of the highest political office in the realm. While there are biographies aplenty on the 18 men and 1 woman who took up residence behind the famous black door, it is notable that that many of these works fail to reflect an important – sometimes the most important - aspect of the life of their subject.

God in Number 10 rectifies this omission, offering intriguing insights into Margaret Thatcher's legendary 'Sermon on the Mound', Tony Blair's perception of Jesus as a modernizer, Arthur Balfour's recourse to spiritualism, Stanley Baldwin's mystical experiences, and Winston Churchill's involvement with astrology. The book considers the role of religion generally in the political classes of the period, the reasons for the declining influence of faith in the public forum, and the relationship between Church and State.

The families of H. H. Asquith, Bonar Law, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson have all expressed their support for God in Number 10 and, where able, helped in the research, while John Major has assisted fully.

33.99 In Stock
God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, from Balfour to Blair

God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, from Balfour to Blair

by Mark Vickers
God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, from Balfour to Blair

God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, from Balfour to Blair

by Mark Vickers

Hardcover

$33.99 
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Overview

'Mark Vickers has given us a wonderful new reference book of the beliefs (and non-beliefs) of 20th-century PMs - a meaty volume that can also be consumed as a social history of British religion.' THE TELEGRAPH

'This carefully researched and well-written study reveals the religious faith of our Prime Ministers, or lack of it, in vivid colours. Prepare to be shocked and surprised as the author lays bare their souls.' SIR ANTHONY SELDON

Mark Vickers' acclaimed volume on the faith of the twentieth-century Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on these holders of the highest political office in the realm. While there are biographies aplenty on the 18 men and 1 woman who took up residence behind the famous black door, it is notable that that many of these works fail to reflect an important – sometimes the most important - aspect of the life of their subject.

God in Number 10 rectifies this omission, offering intriguing insights into Margaret Thatcher's legendary 'Sermon on the Mound', Tony Blair's perception of Jesus as a modernizer, Arthur Balfour's recourse to spiritualism, Stanley Baldwin's mystical experiences, and Winston Churchill's involvement with astrology. The book considers the role of religion generally in the political classes of the period, the reasons for the declining influence of faith in the public forum, and the relationship between Church and State.

The families of H. H. Asquith, Bonar Law, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson have all expressed their support for God in Number 10 and, where able, helped in the research, while John Major has assisted fully.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780281087280
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Publication date: 10/20/2022
Pages: 512
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mark Vickers read History at Durham Universityand practised with one of the City law firms. Having studied for the priesthood at the English College in Rome, he was ordained for the Diocese of Westminster in 2003. He is currently a parish priest in West London. He has previously published two biographies and is the author of Reunion Revisited: 1930s Ecumenism Exposed (Gracewing, 2017).

Table of Contents

List of plates ix

Preface: 'We don't do God' xi

Acknowledgements xvii

List of abbreviations xviii

Arthur Balfour (1902-1905): The Foundations of Belief 1

Henry Campbell-Bannerman (1905-1908): 'I must just trust in Him' 31

H. H. Asquith (1908-1916): 'My husband was never an atheist' 45

David Lloyd George (1916-1922): 'The Welsh Wizard' 71

Bonar Law (1922-1923): 'Deep and solemn sadness' 107

Stanley Baldwin (1923-1924,1924-1929 and 1935-1937): 'Chosen as God's instrument' 118

Ramsay MacDonald (1924 and 1929-1935): 'Celtic mysticism' 152

Neville Chamberlain (1937-1940): A reverent agnostic' 184

Winston Churchill (1940-1945 and 1951-1955): A flying buttress' 204

Clement Attlee (1945-1951): 'Can't believe the mumbo jumbo' 236

Anthony Eden (1955-1957): A prayer of fear' 253

Harold Macmillan (1957-1963): 'One of the most deeply religious souls in politics' 268

Alec Douglas-Home (1963-1964): 'A declaration of faith' 301

Harold Wilson (1964-1970 and 1974-1976): 'A man without religion?' 319

Edward Heath (1970-1974): 'Coming through the valley of bewilderment' 338

James Callaghan (1976-1979): 'A Christian upbringing' 354

Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990): 'Where there is doubt, may we bring faith' 367

John Major (1990-1997): 'A believer at a distance' 410

Tony Blair (1997-2007): 'Jesus was a moderniser' 421

Conclusion: 'The foolish man has said in his heart there is no God' 461

Sources and select bibliography 473

Index 481

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