The Heavenly Ladder

The Heavenly Ladder is the third book in Compton MacKenzie’s celebrated Anglo-Catholic Trilogy (the others being The Altar Steps and The Parson’s Progress). It tells the story of Mark Lidderdale’s struggle as a vicar in a small Cornish village on the eve of the First World War. As Mark returns as a vicar to the parish where he spent most of his childhood he finds that much has changed. His childhood friend has become a Wesleyan Minister and becomes his sworn enemy as Mark tries to rebuild the church once run by his grandfather. The Heavenly Ladder paints a picture of the differences between the rich and the poor, and how religion can manipulate both groups. It also offers a wonderful insight in village life of the early 20th century.