The North Avenue Irregulars 1979

Arrival in New Campton

Reverend Michael Hill and his two children arrive in New Campton to assume the pulpit at North Avenue Presbyterian Church. The church secretary, Anne, is wary of the changes he intends to implement to involve the congregation. Hill frames his mission as revitalizing the church and engaging the community. He steps into a town skeptical of his methods.

First Sunday shock over sinking fund

On his first Sunday, Hill learns that Mrs. Rafferty's husband gambled away the church's sinking fund. He delivers a sermon that lasts less than 15 seconds and then rushes Rafferty out, guiding her to a hidden bookie behind a dry-cleaning shop. The bet loses and he is thrown out of the betting parlor; police are called, but the joint has vanished. The incident exposes the city’s gambling underbelly and the church’s vulnerability.

Evening TV tirade and rebuke

That evening, Hill denounces organized crime on a local television broadcast, provoking a swift backlash. His presbytery chastises him and urges him to focus on building church membership instead of public outcry. Hill must navigate administrative consequences while standing by his vigilante stance against corruption. The town and church begin to polarize around his uncompromising stance.

Music reform and Anne resigns

Hill tries to modernize worship by recruiting a rock band called Strawberry Shortcake to jazz up the service. Anne resigns as music director in response to the shift, signaling a rift within the church leadership. The congregation's musical direction shifts as new sounds begin to creep in. The church atmosphere grows more volatile as older loyalties collide with Hill’s new vision.

Treasury men propose a new angle

Two Treasury agents, Marvin Fogleman and Tom Voohries, arrive with a plan to help shut down the gambling racket by recruiting church members to place monitored bets. Hill cannot recruit men, so he pivots to enlisting women from the congregation. The Irregulars form as a bold, untested tactic to attack the mob from within the community.

Irregulars’ first betting attempt ends badly

Five women from the congregation attempt to place bets alongside the agents, but the operation devolves into a clumsy disaster. The failure underscores the dangers of confronting organized crime and highlights the risks for the desperate group. The plan forces the team to rethink their approach and seek more discreet channels.

Shifting to the mob’s ‘bank’

Hill shifts tactics and begins tailing the mob’s deliverymen through town, coordinating from the church office with a map. The pursuit aims to locate the gang’s central funds and disrupt their financial flow. This surveillance marks a more hands-on, strategic strike against the criminals.

Mobsters infiltrate the church

Two gangsters attend services and identify Claire Porter, reporting back to their crime boss Max Roca. Roca advises intimidation, signaling that the mob is willing to threaten the church directly. The church’s safety feels compromised as the criminals step into a public space.

Anne uncovers the operation; firebombing aftermath

Anne discovers the gambling operation while Hill defends the Irregulars as keeping the gang off balance. Soon after, the mob firebombs the church, shocking Hill and pushing Anne to join the fight. The church’s vulnerability becomes a catalyst for renewed resolve and collective action.

Pulpit vacant and closure looming

The pulpit is declared vacant and North Avenue Presbyterian Church faces possible discontinuation. Dr. Victor Fulton arrives from the presbytery to discuss the church’s closure with Hill, while Anne mobilizes two more presbytery representatives to join the cause. Tension rises as the institution teeters on the edge of extinction.

Airport stops and target acquisition

Anne picks up Dr. Rheems and Reverend Wainwright at the airport, and realizes she can locate the mob’s bank by following a deliveryman to an isolated compound. The Irregulars swarm the location as the gangsters attempt a frantic escape, setting the stage for a climactic confrontation. The operation tightens around the mob’s financial hub.

Showdown and indictments

A demolition derby ensues as the Irregulars seize the mob’s bank and the crooks are stopped, with evidence seized and the gang pressures beginning to crack. The following Sunday, the congregation gathers to hear indictments against the mob and to learn that the church will be rebuilt. The victory marks a turning point for the town and the church alike.