Tales from the Parish

Perfect for fans of Gervase Phinn, James Herriot and Alexander McCall Smith. Father Okoli dreams of owning a flock of hens and studying for a PhD, when his bishop saddles him with yet another parish to look after. But as Father moves to Moreton-on-the-Edge, a farming village in the English Cotswolds, he's plugged into a community of warm-hearted characters, from the motherly parish secretary to her septuagenarian neighbour who's become a cycling champion, and from teenagers requiring driving lessons to atheist publicans who believe in miracles. Between a wacky race and a scarecrow competition, a village fete and a mop fair, Father foils cattle rustlers, fends off foxes and goes viral on the internet. As the community pulls together to reopen the village's Electric Picture House, dreams are fulfilled, teen love blossoms and Father Okoli feels that Moreton-on-the-Edge is now home.

Divided into thirty-one short self-contained small chapters, this popular series from The People's Friend includes one brand-new story never published before. (Also available in Large Print)

Hartley has once again produced a collection of heart-warming, uplifting stories, this time set in that mythical English village we all wished we lived in.- Sandy Salisbury

I love all your writing, Stefania. Everything you write is a delight, and leaves one smiling.- Mary Jasper on Twitter

A whimsical and captivating series of short stories about village life in the English countryside, centred on the humorous life of a new parish priest. - Philippa Carey