It is late July, the run up to St James's Day. It is also the 1000th anniversary of the church at Little Worthy, and Faith Morgan has planned a whole range of celebratory activities:
- A music festival
- A photographic booklet of recent history
- A planting of new trees in the graveyard and vicarage garden
- Bell ringing
- A visit from the bishop

A new painting of the church is commissioned from distinguished local artist Sal Hankley. Sal, who has recently returned from Australia, is not a universally popular choice: outspoken and opinionated, she has made her share of enemies. Before the painting can be completed, Sal is found dead at her easel on a hillock overlooking the church.

Suddenly a very respectable member of the community - a PCC member, no less - is under suspicion. Faith - trying to hold church and village together - finds herself teamed with former lover Detective Inspector Ben Shorter (who has no more time for art than God).