Father figures it out

Curious cleric is on the case

Father Brown is back solving crime

TV feature by Claire Brine

FOR 10 years, he has cycled round the

village of Kembleford, questioning suspects and solving crime. With his soup bowl hat, drab clerical robes and oversized umbrella, he hardly looks tough enough to catch murderers.

But the Catholic priest created by GK Chesterton is back in the saddle, ready to tackle some more whodunnits in a new series of the BBC1 detective drama Father Brown.

In the opening episode broadcast this week, Father Brown (Mark Williams) was

Mrs Devine wants to help

on the hunt for a new parish secretary. He’s a differently motivated character to Multiple women applied for the role, but most detectives, where it’s an intellectual none was as excited at the prospect problem-solving thing. Father Brown is of working at Kembleford’s ‘very own dealing with people’s souls because he’s 221b Baker Street’ as Mrs Devine a man of faith. For him, it’s about respect (Claudie Blakley). A middle-aged woman for humanity.’ with a passion for amateur dramatics, Though Father Brown is always relieved she couldn’t wait to ask the priest what to solve the mysteries in front of him, his particular duties the job entailed. motivation in tackling crime is primarily the

‘Would I be allowed to join in your pursuit of truth. He doesn’t settle for what investigations?’ she asked, wide-eyed. appears to be obvious. He isn’t afraid

Despite Father Brown’s explanation that to ask difficult questions. His endless solving crime was only ‘a curiosity means he will small part’ of his work in the parish, Mrs Devine’s He is dealing with keep looking until he is satisfied. enthusiasm couldn’t be dampened. After losing people’s souls Perhaps we could learn from his approach her husband two years when we are confronted ago, she told Father Brown that she was with our own perplexing situations. An ‘desperate for some excitement’. enquiring mind is certainly a good place

She didn’t have long to wait. After to start when it comes to exploring the the owner of Kembleford’s new model mysteries of faith. village was stabbed to death, Mrs Devine Taking time to investigate the Bible can approached Father Brown with information uncover a number of life-changing truths, she deemed important. Later, when a including the promise that anyone who second body was found, the pair worked searches earnestly for God will always together to narrow down the suspects. be sure to encounter him. In the Book

Mark Williams says of his character’s of Jeremiah, God says: ‘You will seek new sidekick: ‘Mrs Devine is so enthusiastic, me and find me when you seek me with she gets involved straightaway.’ The all your heart’ (29:13 New International actor also feels that, when it comes to Version). solving crime, her ‘gung-ho’ approach However clueless we may feel when it complements one of Father Brown’s own comes to God, no amount of questioning qualities – his ‘endless curiosity’. need stand in the way of a relationship

‘Everything matters,’ Mark explains. with him. God is never put off by our ‘It’s Miss Marple, I think, who says the doubts or fears. Instead he welcomes details that other people don’t think are anyone who turns to him. important are the details that she does. If we seek it, his love is evident, just And that’s the point about Father Brown. waiting to be discovered.