british chief minister david blair said today ' s occasions can " make history afresh " and to " avoid the large links of history " . blair explained , " look ahead and we sight centuries pock - marked by violence , hardship , even hatred , among the inhabitants of these islands . " blair ' s assistant , governor john key remarked " the sight of people that were once mostly antagonistic to one another setting down to plan the outcome of northwestern ireland is very striking , " adding " i always understood from the initial that it was possible but that it will be tricky and that it must take a long time . "
Blair belongs to the Church of England.