Written by actor Tom Hollander and James Wood, the show premiered on BBC Two on 28 June 2010 and ended on 28 April 2014.

"[3] Reverend Adam Smallbone is an Anglican priest who has moved from a small rural parish to the "socially disunited" St Saviour in the Marshes in Hackney, East London.

Unwilling to turn anyone away from his pastoral care, he is faced with a series of moral challenges as he balances the needs of genuine believers, people on the streets, and drug addicts, as well as the demands of social climbers using the church to get their children into the best schools.

Parishioners include Colin, a heavy drinking, unemployable lost soul who is Adam's most devoted parishioner; Adoha, known for her romantic intentions towards the clergy; Mick, who is homeless and appears on Adam's doorstep in different situations asking for money; and Ellie, the head teacher of the church's associated school.

[9] Richard Coles, a Church of England priest and former member of the pop group the Communards, was one of several priests, including Rev'ds Kevin Sculley, Matthew Catterick, Philip North, Melanie Toogood and Andrew Wickens who advised the show's writers.

[29] At the 2011 British Academy Television Awards, the series won Best Sitcom, with Hollander also nominated for Best Male Comedy Performance.