Sarah Mitchell
The vicar in Grantchester is not Catholic. The series, which is based on The Grantchester Mysteries, features Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers (James Norton) in the first series, followed by vicars William Davenport (Tom Brittney) and Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair). The show takes place in the 1950s in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester and revolves around the vicars' sleuthing adventures with Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green). While the show includes religious elements, it has been criticised for lacking faith and not investing in exploring religious themes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the vicar | Sidney Chambers (James Norton) |
| William Davenport (Tom Brittney) | |
| Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair) | |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Celibacy | Yes |
| Show's treatment of faith | Lack of faith in the formula of the books or in the institute of marriage |
| The show isn't invested in faith | |
| Real-life vicar of Grantchester | Reverend Rachel Rosborough |
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What You'll Learn
The vicar in Grantchester is Anglican, not Catholic
The show is based on 'The Grantchester Mysteries', a collection of short stories written by James Runcie. The first series was based on the six stories from the first book, 'Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death'. Sidney Chambers is a celibate Anglican priest in the St. Andrew and St. Mary Church, and he lives in the vicarage with his housekeeper, Mrs. McGuire, and fellow priest, the Reverend Leonard Finch.
While the show does deal with faith and a chaste life, it has been criticised for lacking faith in the formula of the books or in the institute of marriage. The show has also been criticised for not being invested in faith, especially when compared to the BBC One series 'Father Brown', which features a crime-solving and chaste Roman Catholic priest.
The real-life vicar of Grantchester, Reverend Rachel Rosborough, served as Vicar of St. Andrew and St. Mary’s, Grantchester, and of St. Mark’s, Newnham but moved on in 2023, becoming Vice-Principal at Westcott House, Cambridge.
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The vicar is played by actor Tom Brittney
The ITV series Grantchester is a British detective drama set in the 1950s in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester. The series features Anglican vicars and their crime-solving endeavours with Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green). The first series, which aired in 2014, featured James Norton as the vicar Sidney Chambers.
Actor Tom Brittney joined the cast as Reverend Will Davenport in the fourth series, which began filming in June 2018. Brittney's character is described as young, handsome, [and] available" man of God with a strong moral compass and a thirst to change things". Brittney's Will Davenport replaced James Norton's Sidney Chambers as the Anglican vicar of Grantchester.
While the show features Anglican vicars, it has been criticised for its treatment of faith and its focus on the private lives of the vicars. Some viewers have compared it to the BBC series "Father Brown", which features a crime-solving Roman Catholic priest, and have noted that "Grantchester" lacks investment in faith.
In July 2023, it was announced that the ninth series of "Grantchester" would be Brittney's last, and that he would be replaced by actor Rishi Nair as vicar Alphy Kottaram.
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The vicarage is a real home in Lemsford, Hertfordshire
The ITV detective drama "Grantchester" is set in the 1950s in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester. The series features Anglican vicars Sidney Chambers (James Norton), William Davenport (Tom Brittney), and Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair). Each of them develops a sideline in sleuthing with the help of Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green.
The show is based on "The Grantchester Mysteries," a collection of short stories written by James Runcie. While the show features Anglican vicars, it has been criticised for lacking faith and not investing in religious themes. This is in contrast to other shows featuring priests or vicars, such as "Father Brown," which centres around a crime-solving Roman Catholic priest and includes more explicit religious themes.
The vicarage in "Grantchester" is a real home in Lemsford, Hertfordshire. While the exterior shots of the vicarage are of the actual vicarage in Grantchester, the interior shots are filmed in a private home in Lemsford, which is about an hour's drive from Grantchester. The building was chosen because its shape is very similar to the actual vicarage, and the production team has left it dressed for filming over the years. The current vicar's residence in Grantchester is a 300-year-old structure, which was once rented by poet Rupert Brooke.
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The vicar is a former inner-city chaplain
The vicar in Grantchester is not Catholic, but Anglican. The character is a former inner-city chaplain, who was appointed as the Anglican vicar of Grantchester. The character's name is Will Davenport, played by Tom Brittney. He replaced the previous vicar, Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton.
Davenport is a man of the people — confident, caring, and self-assured. He is described as having a strong moral compass with a thirst for change. However, he also has a dark and troubled past. He is young, handsome, and available bachelor. He has a vow of celibacy, although he had a rough childhood involving partying and sleeping with women.
The show is a British ITV detective drama set in the 1950s in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester. The vicarage is used for extensive filming, with the Church of St Andrew and St Mary used for the church interior and churchyard scenes. The real-life vicar of Grantchester, Reverend Rachel Rosborough, has shared her experiences of having her home and church used for filming.
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The vicar is a crime-solving partner to Geordie Keating
While the show is not particularly focused on faith, the vicar's role as a crime solver is central to the plot. The vicar brings a unique perspective to the crime-solving process, using his intuition and coaxing techniques to gather information from witnesses and suspects. This contrasts with Geordie Keating's more gruff and methodical approach to policing.
In the fourth series of the show, a new vicar, Will Davenport (played by Tom Brittney) is introduced. Will Davenport is a former inner-city chaplain with a strong moral compass and a troubled past. He joins Geordie Keating in solving crimes and confronting the wrongs of criminal Cambridge, while also dealing with his own personal demons.
The dynamic between the vicar and Geordie Keating is a highlight of the series, with their contrasting personalities and approaches to crime-solving creating a compelling partnership. The show explores how their friendship develops and deepens as they work together to solve the mysteries of Grantchester.
While the vicars in Grantchester are not Catholic, their struggles with celibacy and ministry are more reflective of reality of those called to the priesthood. The show also explores the changing attitudes towards homosexuality during the 1950s, adding depth to the characters and storylines.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the vicar in Grantchester is Anglican.
The vicar in Grantchester has been played by James Norton (as Sidney Chambers), Tom Brittney (as Will Davenport), and Rishi Nair (as Alphy Kottaram/Kotteram).
No, Grantchester is a work of fiction. However, it is based on The Grantchester Mysteries, a collection of short stories written by James Runcie.
