# Mr. Harding — Barchester Towers character guide > Mr. Harding in Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Harding, Mr. Precentor Harding, the Master of Lazarus **First appearance:** 0000-i-who-will-be-the-new-bishop ## Snapshot A gentle, music-loving former warden who would rather play his cello than fight, yet keeps being pushed to the center of everyone else's battles. ## Who they are Harding has lost Hiram's Hospital and now finds himself proposed for the deanery by friends who plot his future without consulting him. He is shuffled between Plumstead and Barchester, his mild protests drowned out by the archdeacon's triumph and his daughter's urgency. His humility and his refusal to scheme make him the moral touchstone against which the ambitions of Slope and Mrs. Proudie are measured. ## Relationships ### [Archdeacon Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/archdeacon_grantly) _family_ Archdeacon Grantly is Mr. Harding's son-in-law, and they share a close, though sometimes contentious, family bond. ### [Eleanor Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/eleanor_bold) _family_ Eleanor is Mr. Harding's beloved daughter, and they share a tender, supportive father-daughter relationship. ### [Mr. Slope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/mr_slope) _rivalry_ Mr. Harding opposes Mr. Slope's ambitious and unprincipled church reforms, creating a quiet but firm antagonism. ### [Dr. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/dr_proudie) _professional_ Dr. Proudie is Mr. Harding's bishop, and their relationship is formal but strained due to Harding's gentle resistance. ### [Mr. Slope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/mr_slope) _rivalry_ Mr. Harding opposes Mr. Slope's ambitious and unprincipled church reforms, creating a quiet but firm antagonism. ### [Mr. Slope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/mr_slope) _rivalry_ Mr. Harding opposes Mr. Slope's ambitious and unprincipled church reforms, creating a quiet but firm antagonism. ### [Archdeacon Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/archdeacon_grantly) _family_ Archdeacon Grantly is Mr. Harding's son-in-law, and they share a close, though sometimes contentious, family bond. ### [Archdeacon Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/archdeacon_grantly) _family_ Archdeacon Grantly is Mr. Harding's son-in-law, and they share a close, though sometimes contentious, family bond. ### [Dr. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/dr_proudie) _professional_ Dr. Proudie is Mr. Harding's bishop, and their relationship is formal but strained due to Harding's gentle resistance. ### [Eleanor Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/eleanor_bold) _family_ Eleanor is Mr. Harding's beloved daughter, and they share a tender, supportive father-daughter relationship. ### [Eleanor Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/eleanor_bold) _family_ Eleanor is Mr. Harding's beloved daughter, and they share a tender, supportive father-daughter relationship. ### [Dr. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/dr_proudie) _professional_ Dr. Proudie is Mr. Harding's bishop, and their relationship is formal but strained due to Harding's gentle resistance. ## In the story ### [Who Will Be the New Bishop?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/i-who-will-be-the-new-bishop) The precentor and father-in-law of the archdeacon, he is present at the bishop's death and is sent to telegraph the news. ### [Hiram’s Hospital According to Act of Parliament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/ii-hiram-s-hospital-according-to-act-of-parliament) Former warden of Hiram's Hospital, now vicar of St. Cuthbert's and precentor; praised for his resignation but still involved with the hospital. ### [A Morning Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/v-a-morning-visit) Visits the palace with Archdeacon Grantly; remains courteous but is subtly patronized by Mr. Slope and challenged by Mrs. Proudie on Sabbath travel. ### [War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/vi-war) Mildly expresses his dislike of Mr. Slope and Mrs. Proudie, but is more conciliatory than Grantly; he performs the litany during the service. ### [The Dean and Chapter Take Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/vii-the-dean-and-chapter-take-counsel) Suggests tolerating Mr. Slope unless he preaches false doctrine, but his gentle plea is overruled; he privately fears further disruption to his life. ### [The Ex-Warden Rejoices in His Probable Return to the Hospital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/viii-the-ex-warden-rejoices-in-his-probable-return-to-the-hospital) Visits Eleanor to share the news of his probable return to Hiram's Hospital as warden, with a reduced income and new responsibilities including a matron and twelve old women. ### [Mrs. Proudie's Reception—Commenced](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/x-mrs-proudie-s-reception-commenced) Attends the reception with Eleanor and Miss Bold. ### [Slope Versus Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xii-slope-versus-harding) Listens to Mr. Slope's proposed duties, becomes angry, and ultimately declines the appointment under the proposed conditions. ### [The Rubbish Cart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xiii-the-rubbish-cart) Visits Plumstead to discuss his anxieties about Eleanor's association with Mr. Slope; feels caught between his daughter's sympathy for Slope and the archdeacon's combative stance. ### [The New Champion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xiv-the-new-champion) Visits Plumstead for advice; initially inclined to abandon the hospital to avoid conflict, but yields to the archdeacon's arguments; returns to Barchester the next morning. ### [Baby Worship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xvi-baby-worship) Discussed indirectly; his refusal of conditions attached to the hospital is used by Slope to justify the bishop's actions. ### [Who Shall Be Cock of the Walk?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xvii-who-shall-be-cock-of-the-walk) His potential reappointment to Hiram's Hospital is the central point of contention. ### [The Widow's Persecution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xviii-the-widow-s-persecution) Defends Eleanor's innocence but is persuaded by the archdeacon to fight for the hospital and to send Eleanor to Plumstead to avoid Mr. Slope. ### [St. Ewold’s Parsonage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxi-st-ewold-s-parsonage) Arrives at the rectory with Mrs. Bold, rambles about the lawn and church, and later joins the party inspecting St. Ewold's parsonage. ### [The Thornes of Ullathorne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxii-the-thornes-of-ullathorne) Takes the archdeacon's duty at Plumstead Church while the archdeacon accompanies Mr. Arabin. ### [Mrs. Proudie Wrestles and Gets a Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxvi-mrs-proudie-wrestles-and-gets-a-fall) Referenced as the candidate Mr. Slope recommends for the hospital appointment, having expressed a desire to return to his old place. ### [A Love Scene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxvii-a-love-scene) Mentioned as the intended recipient of the wardenship offer; Mr. Slope's letter is meant to be shown to him. ### [Mrs. Bold Is Entertained by Dr. and Mrs. Grantly at Plumstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxviii-mrs-bold-is-entertained-by-dr-and-mrs-grantly-at-plumstead) Receives the letter from the archdeacon, reads it, and is pained by Eleanor's lack of disgust, leading to a quiet farewell. ### [A Serious Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxix-a-serious-interview) Pained by the household tension and unable to discuss the quarrel with Eleanor, he reluctantly agrees to her plan to return alone. ### [Another Love Scene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxx-another-love-scene) Tries to comfort Eleanor and has resolved to support her regardless of her choice to marry Mr. Slope, though he cannot bring himself to mention Slope's name. ### [Oxford—The Master and Tutor of Lazarus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxxiv-oxford-the-master-and-tutor-of-lazarus) Ill at ease and sick at heart, wishing to leave Plumstead; his claim to the hospital is discussed without his direct involvement. ### [Ullathorne Sports—Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xxxvi-ullathorne-sports-act-i) Relieved to learn Eleanor does not intend to marry Mr. Slope; apologizes for his suspicions. ### [Mrs. Bold at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xliv-mrs-bold-at-home) Visits Eleanor in the evening; learns of Mr. Slope's effrontery and discusses the dean's death and Mr. Quiverful's appointment to the hospital. ### [The Dean Elect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xlvii-the-dean-elect) Arrives at Plumstead with news of being offered the deanery, but hesitates due to feeling unqualified. ### [Miss Thorne Shows Her Talent at Matchmaking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xlviii-miss-thorne-shows-her-talent-at-matchmaking) Returns to Barchester from Plumstead, perplexed by the deanery offer, and receives a note from Eleanor begging him to come to her. ### [The Beelzebub Colt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/xlix-the-beelzebub-colt) Visits Eleanor to share news of the deanery offer and begins to consider Mr. Arabin for the position. ### [The Archdeacon Is Satisfied with the State of Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/l-the-archdeacon-is-satisfied-with-the-state-of-affairs) Informs the archdeacon of Eleanor's engagement to Mr. Arabin, enjoying the revelation. ### [The New Dean Takes Possession of the Deanery, and the New Warden of the Hospital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/lii-the-new-dean-takes-possession-of-the-deanery-and-the-new-warden-of-the-hospital) Leads the effort to install Mr. Arabin as dean and later personally introduces Mr. Quiverful to the hospital, demonstrating his selflessness and sensitivity to others' feelings. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/chapters/liii-conclusion) Remains precentor of Barchester and pastor of St. Cuthbert's; gives away the bride; is portrayed as a good, humble man without guile. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters/mr_harding - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barchester_towers_se/characters