'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.

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