Esther, a pregnant American woman living in England with her husband and child, attends a gathering of the Mothers' Union with her neighbor Rose and Mrs. Nolan, an acquaintance who lives nearby. This week, the meeting is being held at the local church that Esther attends regularly in the evenings. Despite being an atheist, Esther first began attending the church services after listening to the local churchgoers, who gather to ring bells every Sunday in the mornings and afternoons, and feeling as if she were missing out on an important community ritual. Though the woman confesses to the rector, the head of the church, that she does not believe in the resurrection, she only reveals that she grew up in the Unitarian Church and does not add that she is no longer a Christian. The rector, handing her a Book of Common Prayer, suggests that she attend church with her neighbors in order to feel more comfortable.

At the meeting of the Mothers' Union, Esther feels out of place in the church, awkwardly bowing her head during prayer and accidentally eating before saying grace. Her companion Mrs. Nolan is even more uncomfortable, realizing she is the only woman without a hat and then asking if she is allowed to smoke, only to be told no in a clearly judgmental tone. While the women are eating pastries with their tea, the rector approaches Mrs. Nolan, mentioning indirectly that if she were a divorcee, she would not be welcome in the church. Though Mrs. Nolan is supposedly married to the local pub keeper, she takes this remark as an invitation to leave, and Rose and Esther follow her out of the church. As Mrs. Nolan departs for the pub, Rose explains to Esther that their acquaintance would not be able to join the Mothers' Union, even if she wanted to.