This work investigates the life, intellectual development, and ecclesiastical influence of William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury during the Second World War. F. A. Iremonger, drawing upon extensive personal correspondence and official records, constructs a comprehensive portrait of Temple as a theologian, social reformer, and pivotal leader within the Church of England.

Historians and theologians frequently cite this volume as the definitive biographical record of William Temple's public life. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a thorough examination of the political and religious climate of the early 20th century.