A Man Called Peter

Growing up in Coatbridge, Peter Marshall loves the sea and dreams of a life aboard a ship. A foggy incident nearly sends him over a ledge, and the experience pushes him toward a calling in the ministry. This early moment shapes the path he will follow.

To pursue his calling, Peter works double shifts to save money for schooling in America. He travels to the United States to pursue his studies and continues to fund his education for divinity school. His perseverance marks a new chapter in his life as he moves toward the priesthood.

After completing his studies, Peter is called to serve as pastor at a rural church in Covington, Georgia. His sermons quickly win a growing and diverse audience. He begins to build a community through inclusive services and hard work.

Catherine Wood, from nearby Agnes Scott College, falls in love with Peter the first time she hears him speak. She helps him at a college event, delivering an extemporaneous speech that quotes his sermons. Their friendship deepens into romance and they eventually marry.

Peter and Catherine marry, and their honeymoon unfolds as an ocean voyage and a fishing trip. Catherine is seasick and refuses to board a fishing boat, yet the journey strengthens their bond. The sea becomes a backdrop to their new life together.

Back in the capital, Peter accepts the post of pastor at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He invites people from all walks of life, challenging the local church snobbery. His inclusive approach leads to rapidly overflowing services.

Peter and Catherine welcome their son, Peter John, on the morning of December 7, 1941, as Pearl Harbor is attacked. He delivers a sermon at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, shifting his planned message to focus on death and eternal life. He describes dying as going to sleep in one room and waking in the room where you belong.

Catherine contracts tuberculosis and becomes bedridden. She listens to Peter's sermon about a woman healed by touching Jesus' robe and draws spiritual strength from his words. When Peter returns home, she has walked down the stairs for the first time in three years.

The Marshalls buy a vacation home in Cape Cod and spend time by the sea. Peter takes his son fishing, while Catherine declines to join them on the water. The Cape becomes a haven amid their trials.

While preaching, Peter falls ill with a coronary thrombosis. After a brief rest, he returns to preaching and later accepts appointment as Chaplain of the United States Senate. His health crisis redirects his influence toward national service.

One night, Peter wakes Catherine in pain and is taken away by ambulance. She is told to stay with their son, and Peter dies shortly after the hospital contacts her. The loss leaves Catherine a widow to raise their child.

That summer, Catherine brings their son to the Cape Cod cottage. He longs to go out on the boat, and she realizes he cannot go alone. She climbs into the boat with him, sharing a last moment on the water.