The Following of the Star
Florence Barclay
Inspirational Romance
Published 1911
Synopsis
David Rivers is a young preacher recently returned from missionary work in Central Africa, to a quiet Hampshire village where he struggles to revive a spiritually indifferent congregation. His life changes when he becomes captivated by the mysterious Diana Rivers, whose presence awakens both an emotional longing and a renewed purpose. Set in early‑20th‑century England, when David’s domestic parish life overlaps with memories of his missionary hardships, creating a contrast between spiritual fervor and pious complacency. As David’s Sunday sermons grow increasingly shaped by his desire to reach this “Lady of Mystery,” they show his inner transformation, moral struggles, and his search for divine guidance.
Novel Excerpt
David thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his short coat, well cut, but inclined to be somewhat threadbare. He crossed his knees, and lay back comfortably in the Rector’s big chair. An hour and a half remained before he need start out.
It was inexpressibly restful to have his subject, clear cut and complete, safely stowed away in the back of his mind, and to be able to sit quietly in this warmth and comfort, and let his thoughts dwell lightly upon other things, while Christmas snow fell softly, in large flakes, without; and gathering twilight slowly hushed the day to rest.
“Yes, undoubtedly my Lady of Mystery will be there,” thought David Rivers, “unless this fall of snow keeps her away.”
He let his memory dwell in detail upon the first time he had seen her.
It happened on his second Sunday at Brambledene.
The deadening effect of the mental apathy of the congregation had already somewhat damped his enthusiasm.
It was so many years since he had preached in English, that, on the first Sunday, he had allowed himself the luxury of writing out his whole sermon. This plan, for various reasons, did not prove successful.
Mrs. Churchwarden Jones and Mrs. Churchwarden Smith—good simple souls both, if you found them in their dairies making butter, or superintending the sturdy maids in the farm kitchens—seemed to consider on Sundays that they magnified their husbands’ office by the amount of rustle and jingle they contrived to make with their own portly persons during the church services. They kept it up, duet fashion, on either side of the aisle. If Mrs. Jones rustled, Mrs. Smith promptly tinkled. If Mrs. Smith rustled, Mrs. Jones straightway jingled. The first time this happened in the sermon, David looked round, hesitated, lost his place, and suffered agonies of mortification before he found it again.
Moreover, he soon realised that, with his eyes on the manuscript, he had absolutely no chance of holding the attention of his audience.