- Title: The Rector's Wife
- Date: 10th March 1994
- Summary: Despite the disapproval of ther husband, Anna Bourverie (Lindsay Duncan) decides to take their daughter, Flora (Lucy Dawson) on a visit to St Saviours, a local convent. Flora adores the nuns and the school's friendly atmosphere. What is more, the principal, Sister Ignatia (Mary Macleod), is prepared to offer Lucy a free place. Peter Bouverie's (Jonathon Coy) disappointment at not becoming archdeacon is compounded by Anna's decision to take a job at Pricewell's supermarket. He feels both humiliated and isolated and this does not go unnoticed by his parishioners nor his son Luke (Simon Fenton). The Bouverie's new neighbour, Patrick O'Sullivan (Miles Anderson), overhears a furious confrontation between mother and son which is only brought to a halt by the intercedence of Isobel Thompson (Gabrielle Lloyd), the deaconess, who is more than just a friend to the Bouverie family. Anna learns from Isobel that Peter hs confided in her that Anna is more shaken by his failure to gain promotion than he is. This news infuriates Anna. Luke takes the opportunity to introduce himself to Patrick O'Sullivan in the hope that he might get a job and, therefore, raise the money he needs for his trip to India. Patrick takes to Luke and returns with him to the new rectory to meet Anna for the first time. Anna is amused that a son she finds so hard to motivate has offered his services around the house the garden to this charming new neighbour. Anna becomes aware that a small coterie of parish ladies are now beginning to take on more of the tasks she had always fulfilled in the past. The new archdeacon, Daniel Byrne (Ronald Pickup), suggests she might do well to accept it in the spirit it is offered however when the well-meaning but insensitive Celia Harper (Carol Macready) offers to cater for the regular deanery supper, Anna can no longer control her contempt for Peter who she believes has orchestrated this campaign. Patrick discovers the distraught Anna alone in the Churchyard and invites her into his house for a drink. He can clearly see that she is unhappy and holds out a hand in friendship but Anna suspects his motives. Anna feels trapped within her relationship and Peter offers her no encouragement. Daniel Byrne, conducting the Easter service, is a great success with the parishioners of Loxford which adds to Peter's depression. The only distraction for Anna comes when Daniel introduces her to his brother Jonathan (Stephen Dillane), a youthful academic who clearly makes an impression on the rector's wife. Celia Harper, concerned to overcome any misunerstanding, visits Anna in the company of Elaine Dodswell (Madge Hindle). They suggest that along with some other parishioners they could relieve Anna of her more onerous parochial duties. In a sense they would become deputy rector's wives. Anna is appalled and puts all her effort into making the deanery supper a huge success. However, she is physically and emotionally drained and the only salvation is for her to get away from Loxford and visit her old university friend, Eleanor Ramsey (Pam Ferris) and her husband Peter (Jonathan Cecil). Eleanor has become a successful writer of rather risque novels and lives in bohemian splendour in Oxford, a far cry from the rural solitude that Anna has had to endure in recent years.
- Description:For twenty years Anna Bouverie has been the dutiful wife of a priest,submergingher will for the sake of the parish,until pressures at home force her to behavein a very unexpected and shocking way.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:TALISMAN FILMS LTD
- Programme Episode:Episode 2
- Transmission Date:10/03/1994
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 1990s