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ALISTAIR CAMPBELL.JPG
Reuters
ALISTAIR CAMPBELL.JPG
Reuters
World News

Alistair Campbell reveals Bible studies with Justin Welby

by Kelly Valencia

Former Tony Blair adviser Alastair Campbell has revealed he attended private Bible study sessions led by former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

Campbell, who famously said “We don’t do God” while working for Blair, attended several sessions at Lambeth Palace in 2024.

Speaking to the Church Times, he said Welby had invited him to join groups discussing Bible readings.

“Justin Welby just asked if I’d like to go to these groups that he chairs, where he goes through readings from the Bible, and I found them very, very interesting,” Campbell said.

“I went along to several of these very interesting occasions, where I think I was probably the only atheist in the room.”

The sessions were led by Welby alongside Canon Chris Russell, his adviser on evangelism and witness.

Campbell said he was impressed by Welby’s knowledge of the Bible and described him as “a really, really good man”.

The 69-year-old said he considers himself a “pro-faith atheist” and has experienced moments of what he described as a sense of awe or connection while visiting churches.

“I don’t like the whole kind of anti-faith thing,” he said. “But I’m proud to say I’m a pro-faith atheist. I even occasionally read the Church Times.”

Asked whether he could ever become a Christian, Campbell said: “Look, I honestly don’t know.”

He also explained his famous “We don’t do God” remark, saying he was not opposed to politicians discussing their faith but believed it was dangerous to link religion directly to politics.

“So that’s what that was about. I’ve always been interested in faith. I’m very interested in faith.”

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