The story is set in a church in the City of London during the period 1900-1940. The background of the novel is witness to the international height of British imperial power - albeit an imperial power which was waning. The Church of England, trying to cling to an imperial past which reinforced its own authority, has almost lost sight of its ecclesiastical purpose to promote Christian values to parishioners at a local church level. Thomas, a young vicar, patiently and almost alone looks after the interests of his communicants and by so doing appears out of tune with the age. He is overlooked for promotion and often ignored by his fellow clerics. Eventually, however, his honesty, hard work and Christian good intentions make a clear statement to local residents, who in return regularly flock to his church services and social events. If the Church of England is indeed to survive in a post-imperial age, perhaps it will have to rethink its Christian mission and its values.