 Birkin becomes accepted into the Nonconformist family of Mr Ellerbeck the station master ( Jim Carter ) , with whom he dines on Sundays ; the hospitality of the chapel congregation is contrasted against the established church , who have consigned the penniless Birkin to sleep in the church belfry . Ellerbeck 's children eventually persuade Birkin to preach a sermon at a nearby Methodist chapel . Birkin also forms an emotional , albeit unspoken , attachment to Alice Keach ( Natasha Richardson ) , the young wife of the vicar . The vicar himself ( Patrick Malahide ) is portrayed unsympathetically as an obstruction to the work in the church , viewing the medieval painting as symptomatic of the superstition prevalent in the community . 
 Birkin <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>becomes</mark></a> accepted into the Nonconformist family of Mr Ellerbeck the station master ( Jim Carter ) , with whom he <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>dines</mark></a> on Sundays ; the hospitality of the chapel congregation is contrasted against the established church , <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>have</mark></a> consigned the penniless Birkin to sleep in the church belfry . Ellerbeck <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>children eventually persuade Birkin to preach a sermon at a nearby Methodist chapel . Birkin also <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>forms</mark></a> an emotional , albeit unspoken , attachment to Alice Keach ( Natasha Richardson ) , the young wife of the vicar . The vicar himself ( Patrick Malahide ) is portrayed unsympathetically as an obstruction to the work in the church , viewing the medieval painting as symptomatic of the superstition prevalent in the community . 
Birkin become accepted into the Nonconformist fam of Mr Ellerbeck the station master ( Jim Carter ) , witt whom he dine on Sundays ; da hospitality of the chapel congregation is contrasted against tdaestablished church , done consigned the penniless Birkin to sleep in the church belfry . Ellerbeck  children eventually persuade Birkin to preach a sermon at a nearby Methodist chapel . Birkin also form an emotional , albeit unspoken , attachment to Alice Keach ( Natasha Richardson ) , the young wife of thdaicar . Thedacar hisself ( Patrick Malahide ) is portrayed unsympathetically as an obstruction to the work in the church , viewing the daieval painting as symptomatic of the superstition prevalent in the community .