This important book by one of Oxford’s outstanding church leaders takes us into a debate that never goes away: about the nature of religious belief, conflicting viewpoints of science and belief, the origins of faith and the guidance it can offer to moral behaviour and comfortable and civilised living together.

But Canon Mountford’s book explores something new as well. What if, he asks, a member of his congregation does not believe in God, thinks the Trinity a pointless obfuscation, that the idea of the Virgin birth is silly, and that the divinity of Christ is a fabulous invention — yet that same person comes to church, sings hymns, says the responses, even recites the Creed?

Those who have watched, with increasing admiration, and for a quarter of a century now, Brian Mountford develop his ministry at the church of St Mary the Virgin, know already that he would prefer not to deny communion to such a person if they asked for it.

As Vicar of the University Church, more than anyone in the priesthood perhaps, he is in a position to talk to Fellows of the Royal Society, monks, writers, unbelievers, recent converts, world financiers, the head of the BBC, lapsed believers, sceptical and believing dons, tramps, poets, composers, shopkeepers, on an almost daily basis, and in a highly articulate way.

Christian Atheist — the sub-title, Belonging without Believing, is helpful — is above all a conversation with some of these voices.

The Church of England at its best, some say, is where people who think like this can come together in fellowship; where can one daily hear the poor remembered, the sick brought to mind, famine in distant lands prayed about, awful calamities noticed and given due thought, and compassion offered to those who suffer?

Canon Mountford has positioned himself to take advantage of the opportunities his unusual job has offered him: as a don, he writes with perception and verve about poetry, music and theatre, but he caters for town and gown, tourist and connoisseur, believer and non-believer. Beauty, the numinous, and mystery matter, but so do accessibility, common sense, and inclusiveness. Combining all this in a short book is what he manages to achieve here.

Richard Wilson