The story follows Reverend Samuel D. Whitehead, played by Andy Griffith, an ex-Marine, skilled bricklayer, and recent seminary graduate, who is filled with excitement when he receives his very first "calling"—the chance to become the pastor of his own church. His new assignment takes him to the Church of the Redeemer in Wood Falls, Kansas, but from the very beginning, it proves to be far more difficult than he anticipated.
Almost immediately after arriving in town with his family, Sam finds himself in the middle of a chaotic political rally linked to the upcoming mayoral election. The rally quickly devolves into a violent fight, with townspeople brawling openly and the sheriff unable or unwilling to intervene. In his attempt to help, Sam tries to break up the fight but only ends up getting struck in the face, which sets the tone for the challenges he will face. When he finally visits the church, he discovers that it is in serious disrepair—a problem that has lingered for decades. The two founding families, the Sinclairs and the Greshams, are engaged in a persistent feud that obstructs all attempts at cooperation or progress, making even simple decisions nearly impossible.
Sam's first act as preacher is to deliver a sermon condemning violence—only to find himself alienating the very crowd he is trying to help, as some of the brawlers blame him for making them vulnerable to attacks. From then on, he finds himself caught up in trying to meet the needs of the community and the church, often acting as a mediator between the opposing families. His efforts lead him into a series of misadventures, each fraught with trouble. For example, his attempt to acquire a new organ for the church sparks a heated confrontation with the church board after it is revealed he obtained the instrument from a house of burlesque, which fuels gossip around town.
Meanwhile, Sam's brother-in-law, Jerry Van Dyke, who is known as "Bubba," offers to help repair the aging boiler. However, the repairs unexpectedly turn into the production of moonshine, specifically raisin jack, as Bubba and the caretaker secretly turn the boiler into a still. This creates another scandal for Sam. Additionally, he becomes involved in controversial decisions such as pulling his children out of school due to the appalling conditions there—a move that earns him a stern warning from his bishop not to meddle in town affairs.
In a more delicate matter, Sam agrees to perform a marriage between a Sinclair and a Gresham, which is kept secret to avoid igniting the longstanding feud. However, when the truth comes out during a church social—after Bubba inadvertently spikes the punch with moonshine—the two families almost come to blows inside the church fellowship hall. Sam has to physically restrain both families to prevent violence and then sends the crowd home.
The mounting chaos finally leads to the bishop dismissing Sam from his pastoral duties, leaving him feeling defeated. Refusing to give up, he encourages Attorney Art Shields to run as a write-in candidate for mayor in a last-ditch effort to bring change. Art, played by Gary Collins, accepts and begins his campaign, which culminates in a chaotic street parade involving three different political groups. Just as things seem to reach a breaking point, the church’s old boiler explodes, destroying the entire church structure in a spectacular fire. The fire department's efforts seem futile, with the hoses constantly leaking, adding to the town’s chaos.
Amidst the ruined church and ongoing political turmoil, Sam confronts the frustration of the community, shouting, "go someplace else, yell your heads off, and let this poor church die in peace!" As the Whiteheads prepare to leave, with the fire still smoldering, Art Shields surprises everyone by winning the mayoral election comfortably. Although Art offers Sam a town job, he declines, feeling the need to find another church where he can serve.
However, just as he is about to leave Wood Falls, he is approached by Will Sinclair and Axel Gresham, who—having finally reconciled—lead a convoy of building trucks. They express their desire to rebuild the church, with Will and Axel explicitly asking him to stay and lead the community once more. This ending offers a glimmer of hope, emphasizing themes of reconciliation, resilience, and community spirit despite the chaos and challenges faced by Reverend Whitehead throughout his turbulent first assignment.
