Guide Note

Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair converted to Catholicism on Friday, December 21, 2007.

Fast Facts

1. Date: December 21, 2007
2. Location: Archbishop's House in Westminster
3. Service led by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
4. Blair's wife Cherie is Roman Catholic¹
5. Blair's children attended Catholic schools¹
6. Blair left Anglican Church

Tony Blair was received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Service leader Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said he was "very glad" with Blair's choice to join.²

The conversion was met with come criticism, notably by politician Ann Widdecombe. She claimed Blair had often "gone against [Catholic] church teaching" with his voting while in office.³