Religion

Father Tim is the rector at the Episcopal Church in Mitford, North Carolina, which makes religion a large focus of the novel. At the outset, Father Tim writes to his bishop, Stuart Cullen, because the priest is questioning whether he wanting to lead the people of Mitford any longer. The bishop asks Tim to take some time and change some things in his life before he makes the final decision to leave the parish. Tim spends quite a bit of time worrying over the quality of the sermons that he writes and his ability to help those in the town. Ironically, Tim is sought out daily by parishioners and non-parishioners that need his guidance or advice.

George Gaynor, is a jewel thief on the run, who finds Lord's Chapel while looking for a place to hide. What starts out as a hide out, becomes a sanctuary when Gaynor...