God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, Balfour to Blair
Ebook
'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.
This acclaimed volume on the personal faith of the twentieth-century British Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on every holder of the highest political office in the realm
Contents
List of plates vii
Foreword ix
Preface: ‘We don’t do God’ xi
Acknowledgements xvii
1 Arthur Balfour (1902–1905): ‘The Foundations of Belief’ 1
2 Henry Campbell-Bannerman (1905–1908): ‘I must
just trust in Him’ 31
3 Herbert Henry Asquith (1908–1916): ‘My husband was
never an atheist’ 45
4 David Lloyd George (1916–1922): ‘The Welsh Wizard’ 71
5 Andrew Bonar Law (1922–1923): ‘Deep and solemn sadness’ 107
6 Stanley Baldwin (1923–1924, 1924–1929 and 1935–1937):
‘Chosen as God’s instrument’ 118
7 James Ramsay MacDonald (1924, 1929–1935):
‘Celtic mysticism’ 152
8 Neville Chamberlain (1937–1940): ‘A reverent agnostic’ 184
9 Winston Churchill (1940–1945 and 1951–1955):
‘A flying buttress’ 204
10 Clement Attlee (1945–1951): ‘Can’t believe the mumbo jumbo’ 236
11 Anthony Eden (1955–1957): ‘A prayer of fear’ 253
12 Harold Macmillan (1957–1963): ‘One of the most deeply
religious souls in politics’ 268
13 Alec Douglas-Home (1963–1964): ‘A declaration of faith’ 301
14 Harold Wilson (1964–1970, 1974–1976): ‘A man
without religion?’ 319
15 Edward Heath (1970–1974): ‘Coming through the
valley of bewilderment’ 338
16 James Callaghan (1976–1979): ‘A Christian upbringing’ 354
17 Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990): ‘Where there is doubt,
may we bring faith’ 367
18 John Major (1990–1997): ‘A believer at a distance’ 410
19 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
'Faith defined the reigns of many of our kings and queens. The faith of the Prime Ministers, however, has been largely overlooked by historians. 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'
A brilliant, fascinating, surprising, sometimes touching parade of nineteen believers, heretics, agnostics, atheists, mystics, astrologers, bigots and Bible-thumping pagans: enlightening and entertaining from start to finish.
Secularism has air brushed the role of religion from the formation and motivation of our Prime Ministers. This book demonstrates the conclusive and increasing importance of faith in the lives of the twentieth-century premiers.
Do Christian beliefs, values and prayer have a place in contemporary politics? What have we to fear if they don't? This timely study reveals the surprising extent to which the Prime Ministers of the last century were influenced by their Christian upbringing and faith – and suggests how their successors could benefit from a similar ethical foundation.
'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.'
This is a remarkable book, one which goes where historians have in the past been reluctant to go. It is packed with information and insights . . . so full of new perception that it has to be read not just by political buffs, but by anyone concerned with the role of religion in public life.
A long, rich, detailed, and engaging survey of our leaders’ souls
Mark Vickers has served up a treat in this magnum opus. God in Number 10 is an intriguing survey, full of unexpected twists and turns . . . well-written and well-researched . . an ideal present for someone interested in both politics and religion.
A finely nuanced and fascinating study which yields sometimes surprising insights . . . chapters on Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair are exceptionally fair and well-balanced.
Anyone interested in politics and religion should get this book. [It] is a wonderful anthology. Mark Vickers writes in a sober, unsensational style, yet produces something surprising or even bizarre on almost every page.
- Title: God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers, Balfour to Blair
- Author: Mark Vickers
- Publisher: SPCK Publishing
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9780281087303, 9780281087280, 0281087288, 028108730X
- Resource ID: LLS:9780281087303
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-05-02T17:39:23Z