The Verger

The bishop died at a quarter to seven, in the middle of the laying on of hands, and the verger would like it noted that the service was not finished.

Hester Cadwallader has run St Milburga's, Wistanbury, for thirty years: the heating, the keys, the flower rota, three vicars, and the bolt on the priest's door, which goes across at four. She knows how long a sermon takes and how long it ought to. She writes everything down in pencil. So when a retired bishop drops dead during a confirmation, i...