Didn't you guys find the house too extravagant for a bishop? I thought it was ironic that the angel mentions how the world is in a difficult situation and many people are homeless, and the bishop is living in that huge house with two maids.
shareFor a moment I thought I was watching Rebecca, such was the oppulence with the Bishop's house, housemaids, assistants et al.
shareBack when this movie was made, it was not uncommon for the church to own the house or houses their ministers and bishops lived in. Some were many years old.. and not always in the best of shape. These rectories were many times no luxury home... they were not always well maintained, and more often than not, anything that had to be done, even something like a roof repair took a special vote by the board members of the church before any work could be done. By the 1970-80's more ministers opted for a stipend and bought their own houses and the rectories were sold off.
How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours.