The coming

A modest rector in a sleepy Sussex‑Kent parish finds his routine unsettled by the lingering shadows of the Great War. For decades his sermons have been simple, dependable counsel for a congregation that trusts his every word, but the turmoil of 1914 has left a quiet, persistent doubt gnawing at his faith and purpose. As he sits at his desk on a bright June Saturday, the familiar pressure to produce a fresh homily feels suddenly oppressive, and he wrestles with questions about his calling and the relevance of his ministry in a world that has been irrevocably altered.

Outside his study window the countryside unfurls in tranquil, rolling hills, yet the calm is broken by the unexpected roar of an aircraft soaring overhead. The sight of the sleek machine, a symbol of modernity and war’s reach, jolts the vicar from his reverie, hinting at forces that may compel him to confront both his inner doubts and the rapidly changing world beyond his parish walls.