The Dean has promised the congregation that he is going to return St Ogg's to its primitive roots. He wishes to replace the Bishop's comfortable throne with a large stone and make life less cosy so that people will pay attention to the sermons. There's a mad frenzy from the Bishop and his cohorts as they try to squash the Dean's plans.

Having endured one of the Dean's parties the previous night, the Bishop and Archdeacon are not over-pleased when Noote forces them to attend another. But they're in for a surprise when the Dean's delightful sister, Hilary, charms them both and suddenly there's a contest to win her affections.

When the Bishop receives a letter from the Archbishop inquiring about the poor clergy in the diocese, he's adamant that all parishes in his jurisdiction are poverty free. Noote advises him of a parish in Stagmarsh that he has never even visited, so the Bishop is stung in to to taking gifts of old clothes disguised as jumble for the 'poor' curate.

In an effort to make his mark on the history of St Ogg's, the Bishop is encouraged to buy at auction the sermons of Bishop Gurdon, a 14th century notable. This would ensure the Bishop would get a brass plaque for his services but, as usual, nothing goes to plan.

The Dean has heard Noote whispering sweet nothings to a 'woman' in the old stables and complains to the Bishop. Turns out Noote has been looking after an Afghan hound and, to complicate things, it is also happens to be pregnant. The Dean's total ignorance of the situation leads to some peculiar misunderstandings.

After another row with the Dean, the Bishop decides he's tired of arguing and decides to play the bigger man. He is persuaded to recommend the Dean for the newly created diocese of Chelsea but then he has to find nice things to say about him – a very difficult task after ten years of bitter infighting.