The Barchester Chronicles

Reverend Septimus Harding is much-loved in Barchester, perhaps the most beloved citizen in the county. In addition to the work at his church, which includes a superb choir, he is also Warden of a local hospital where a group of elderly gentlemen reside and receive a small stipend from the will of a benefactor who died some 400 years ago. Dr John Bold has been tasked to look into this will to determine if its wishes are being correctly applied. He is particularly concerned Harding is in receipt of an annual stipend of £800 per year — a considerable increase in the original amount owing to a vast increase in the value of the property — while its residents receive only 1s6d per day.

Eleanor pleads with Bold to stop his attacks on her father. He doesn't see his attack as personal but in fact against the perceived corruption of the Church of England, whose members live in luxury while the poor starve. In the end, he agrees to stop the court action and so informs Archdeacon Grantly, Harding's son-in-law. Eleanor and John agree to be married. It's not all that simple for Harding, however, as he's greatly disturbed by the accusations against him and travels to London to speak to the Church's solicitor, Sir Abraham Haphazard. Although the suit is dropped, he asks counsel if it's also a moral victory. When Haphazard says he's unable to speak to morality, Harding decides to resign as Warden.

Some years have now passed and Harding is happy in his new parish. Eleanor has wed John but he unexpectedly dies, leaving a widow with a young son. Bishop Grantly, well over 80 years old, also dies and his son, the Archdeadon, expects to be named Bishop in his place. Such is not to be, however, and the new Bishop and his wife soon arrive. Along with Bishop and Mrs Proudie comes his assistant Obadiah Slope. Archdeacon Grantly soon concludes that the new Bishop defers decisions to his wife and she to Slope. When the Bishop asks Slope to deliver the Sunday sermon at the Cathedral, Slope rails against the need for music during services, much to Harding's dismay. Slope is soon calling on the widowed Mrs Bold showing a great interest in her and suggesting that her father may be considered for his old post as Warden of the hospital.