Ambition's in the air. Pedantic Lay Reader Nigel has always believed he'd be a far better priest than Adam and finally gets the chance to prove it - or not.
The Archdeacon also has lofty ambitions for career advancement, but a surprise encounter throws a rather different light on things, and even Colin has got a new job. Meanwhile, Adam faces questions about his own future and has a big decision to make.
Reverend Adam Smallbone is an Anglican vicar who is newly promoted from a small rural parish to the 'socially disunited' St Saviour in the Marshes in East London. Unable to turn anyone away from his new appointment Smallbone is faced with a collection of moral challenges as he balances the needs of genuine believers, people on the streets and drug addicts as well with the demands of social climbers using the church to get their children into the best schools.