The Barchester Chronicles S1E3 backdrop
The Barchester Chronicles poster

The Barchester Chronicles (1982)

S1E3 Part Three

Nov 24, 1982 Season 1 Episode 3 Drama

Years have passed, and Harding has found contentment in his new parish. Eleanor married John, but his sudden death left her a widow with a young son. Bishop Grantly, now well over eighty, also dies. His son, the Archdeacon, expects to inherit the bishopric. But that is not what happens. The new Bishop and his wife, the Proudies, soon arrive, accompanied by his assistant, Obadiah Slope. The Archdeacon quickly realizes the Bishop defers to his wife, who in turn defers to Slope. When Slope preaches the Sunday sermon at the Cathedral, he attacks the use of music in services, upsetting Harding. Slope then begins calling on the widowed Mrs Bold, showing keen interest in her and hinting that her father might regain his old post as Warden of the hospital.