# Mr. Northcote — Phoebe, Junior character guide > Mr. Northcote in Phoebe, Junior by Margaret Oliphant. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** young Northcote, this Mr. Northcote **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-pastor-s-progress ## Snapshot A scholarly young minister whose cleverness never quite fits Salem Chapel, he marries Ursula May and quietly trades Dissenting zeal for honest doubt. ## Who they are Northcote arrives in Carlingford as the kind of intellectual young pastor Salem's deacons distrust on principle, and his brief ministry ends with the congregation glad to see him go. He is steadier in private life than in the pulpit: he marries Ursula, retires from the pastorate and the Liberation Society, and quotes his brother-in-law Reginald May as the best man he knows without ever becoming a Churchman. His slow drift from doctrinaire Dissent toward candid uncertainty gives the novel one of its quietest studies in conscience. ## Relationships ### [Reginald May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/reginald_may) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Reginald's wealthy and influential parishioner, who often advises him on financial and social matters. ### [Phoebe Tozer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/phoebe_tozer) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Phoebe's employer and a father figure, providing her with a position as a companion to his daughter. ### [Ursula May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/ursula_may) _social_ Mr. Northcote is a family friend to the Mays, often offering Ursula advice and financial help. ### [Phoebe Tozer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/phoebe_tozer) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Phoebe's employer and a father figure, providing her with a position as a companion to his daughter. ### [Reginald May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/reginald_may) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Reginald's wealthy and influential parishioner, who often advises him on financial and social matters. ### [Ursula May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/ursula_may) _social_ Mr. Northcote is a family friend to the Mays, often offering Ursula advice and financial help. ### [Reginald May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/reginald_may) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Reginald's wealthy and influential parishioner, who often advises him on financial and social matters. ### [Phoebe Tozer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/phoebe_tozer) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Phoebe's employer and a father figure, providing her with a position as a companion to his daughter. ### [Ursula May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/ursula_may) _social_ Mr. Northcote is a family friend to the Mays, often offering Ursula advice and financial help. ## In the story ### [VI: A Morning Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/vi-a-morning-call) Mentioned in passing as someone who also felt out of place at the ball, but not present in this scene. ### [XVII: A Public Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xvii-a-public-meeting) Delivers a fiery speech at the meeting, criticizing the Church and the College's misuse of funds, and captures the audience's attention. ### [A New Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxi-a-new-friend) Mentioned as having met Phoebe and found her worth talking to. ### [A Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxiv-a-visit) Approaches during Phoebe and Reginald's walk; Phoebe fears an encounter between him and Reginald. ### [Tea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxv-tea) The Dissenter, returns to Carlingford to fill in at Salem Chapel, argues with Reginald, admires the Wedgwood china. ### [XXVIII: The New Pupil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxviii-the-new-pupil) Mentioned as a Dissenter and friend of Clarence, he is expected at the dinner party; his presence causes some stir. ### [Society at the Parsonage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxx-society-at-the-parsonage) The Dissenter minister who attacked Reginald at the meeting; feels humiliated but is drawn to the Parsonage by Ursula, experiencing a Vita Nuova. ### [XXXI: Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxi-society) Grave and reflective, drawn to Ursula rather than her father; his time at Salem Chapel is more than half over. ### [A Disclosure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxiii-a-disclosure) Northcote confesses to Ursula that he was the one who attacked Reginald at the meeting, but explains that Mr. May and Reginald forgave him. He asks for Ursula's forgiveness and seeks a private interview. ### [The Millionaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxv-the-millionaire) Present at the College and defends himself when Mr. Copperhead accuses him of changing his opinions about the Church. ### [A Pleasant Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxvii-a-pleasant-evening) Tries to speak to Ursula under cover of the music, deeply in love with her. ### [XXXIX: A Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxix-a-catastrophe) Present at the parsonage; helps lift Mr. May after the fall. ### [XLII: A Great Mental Shock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xlii-a-great-mental-shock) Takes initiative, suggests financial troubles, offers to help, and is accepted as part of the family; his betrothal to Ursula is acknowledged. ### [XLV: The Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xlv-the-last) Released from charge of Salem Chapel after the minister returns; criticized by the congregation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/mr_northcote - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters