[1] It is about the grandson of an American Episcopal bishop in New York City in the early years of World War II.

[citation needed] In around 1939, Hilary Laurens, a young Episcopal priest, has recently returned to his hometown, somewhere in the American heartland, upon receiving sudden word that his grandfather, the Bishop of that diocese and the only father he's known, has suddenly taken ill and is dying, and Hilary arrives just in time to talk briefly with his grandfather just before the Bishop's death, to tell him that he has just been appointed vicar of St. Matthews, a large church in a "great eastern city", and thus can perpetuate the Bishop's calling.

In course of the book, Hilary needs to cope with the multiple challenges of becoming a vicar of a major church just at the moment his grandfather dies, inheriting the Bishop's Mantle, dealing with the twin callings of a priest to keep his church financially viable, up to date, and yet in keeping of his duty to serve the poor, falling in love with Lex, the daughter of a wealthy church patron, and providing pastoral service to women in his flock, not all of whom want a priest so much as male company, and then finally deal with the odious consequences of the events of December 1941.

Hilary struggles to be a worthy replacement to his predecessor, and copes persistent attempts by various people to involve him in scandal.

His brother Dick, even though the American involvement in the war has not started, volunteers for ambulance service in Europe.