For what it lacked in controversy, a head-to-head between Tony Blair and Rowan Williams last night made up for in confession.

While the two men belong to different churches — Mr Blair converted to Roman Catholicism after leaving Downing Street — and took opposing positions on the war in Iraq, there were no verbal weapons of destruction at a debate on the place of faith in public life in Westminster last night.

While about 50 protestors screamed anti-war slogans outside as their anti-hero took to the stage, the former Prime Minister put himself forward as a peacemonger, making one of his strongest public declarations of Christian faith to date.

The Archbishop of Canterbury also gave witness to clear signs of repentance over the recent debacle in his Church over women bishops.

Ruth Gledhill | Read this article in full at thetimes.co.uk 

Photograph: TheNickster