One Foot in Heaven

In Stratford, Ontario, in 1904, William Spence, a medical student on the verge of becoming a doctor, receives The Call while passing a Methodist church. His bride-to-be Hope Morris accepts his decision with wholehearted support, despite the disappointment of her prominent parents. They embark on a life together as Will begins his path toward the ministry.

With no vacancies in Canada, Will is posted as a circuit minister to a small town in rural Iowa. The family endures frequent moves, dingy parsonages, and scraping a living from wedding duties and poor boxes. Hope yearns for a decent parsonage and a sense of permanence for their children, but she uncomplainingly supports Will's calling.

When their third child is born, Hope and Will cannot agree on a name. Will pushes for the middle name Frazer, and although Hope agrees initially, the boy is baptized the following Sunday as William Frazer Spence. Hope accepts the change with quiet grace as family life continues.

Hartzell, the eldest son, struggles with the expectation that a minister's son should set an example. Will explains the tightrope metaphor of a pastor's life, balancing earthly responsibilities with spiritual aims. After Hartzell is found sneaking into the movies, Will takes him to the theater and uses the experience to teach a broader moral about discernment and growth.

In the 1920s the family is assigned to a church in Denver, Colorado, a building that is old, uncomfortable, and lacking in resources. The neighborhood is prosperous, yet the parsonage is dilapidated, making them yearn for a proper home. Will resolves to build a better church and parsonage to honor Hope and their family.

Power struggles with snobbish church members threaten to derail the project. Will loses Mrs. Sandow to the Baptists after refusing to stop ministering to her chauffeur, and he loses banker Preston Thurston after inaugurating a lively children’s choir. The conflicts test his faith but also push him to seek a constructive solution for the church.

A gossip campaign falsely accuses Hartzell of impregnating a young girl, leading to Hartzell being expelled from school and forcing the family to move to San Francisco. The charge devastates the family and highlights the cruelty of social politics within church circles. Will ultimately learns the truth and vows to defend his son and the congregation against defamatory schemes.

Will receives a tempting job offer in California that promises the ideal church and parsonage, but he cannot surrender his principles for material success. He investigates the girl’s family to verify the rumor and discovers there is no truth to it. Returning to Denver, he vows to confront the hypocrisy that has haunted his ministry.

Back in Denver, Will confronts Mrs. Thurston and her circle, signaling that he will expose their behavior in sermons unless they contribute meaningfully to the building fund. He stands firm in the face of social pressure, choosing integrity over expediency. The power of his convictions slowly shifts the church back toward unity.

A repentant Mrs. Sandow begs to return and helps finance the project by relinquishing the stained glass window, a Skinner organ, and a carillon that were cut from the plans. Will negotiates with her, turning luxuries into funding for the recreation center that will benefit the entire community. The gifts symbolize a turning point in the church renovation.

A year after the renovations, the dream church and parsonage are finished, and Will accepts the challenge of returning to Iowa to aid a small church in trouble. The former adversaries gather to sing The Church's One Foundation as he plays the new carillon, symbolizing reconciliation and renewal. The Spences depart Denver with a sense that their ministry has been revitalized and their family stronger.

Will leaves behind a revitalized church and a more resilient family, shaped by the discipline of service and the flexibility to adapt to changing times. Hope stands by him with serenity, contributing to a life that blends faith, work, and community. The timeline closes with a hopeful note on their continued ministry.