So Tony Blair does do God after all. As prime minister he dismissed suggestions that he had prayed with George W Bush and he was leant on by Alastair Campbell to keep his religious beliefs to himself. Mr Blair was never very good at that, even if he wanted to be. He did not seek to disguise the attraction of Catholicism, the religion of his wife and children. Yesterday’s announcement that he has been accepted into the faith on Friday at Archbishop’s House in Westminster was a long time coming. He received doctrinal and spiritual preparation from Monsignor Mark O’Toole, private secretary to Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, head of the Catholic church in England and Wales, the nearest thing to fast-track entry.

It would have been a bold move for Mr Blair to have converted while prime minister – he would have become the first Catholic to hold the post and it could have complicated tricky Northern Ireland negotiations. But there was always a clear intention to do so and, in an era of secularism in British politics, it is a bold move. Last week, for example, Nick Clegg, the new Liberal Democrat leader, said bluntly that he did not believe in God. It is no coincidence, either, that Richard Dawkins's militantly atheistic books sell in their millions. Religion may be a prerequisite to political success in the United States, but it can be a hindrance in postreligious Britain.

For Mr Blair, the strength of his beliefs may be an advantage in his role as Middle East peace envoy, demonstrating that he, like many of those he is negotiating with, is a person of serious faith. But what does it say about the Church of England? Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, wished the former prime minister well “as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage”. Many will say, however, that his decision speaks volumes about the modern Anglican church, torn apart by schisms over homosexuality and blighted by dwindling congregations and soggy views. The church should take note or more may follow in Mr Blair’s footsteps.