Barchester Towers concerns the leading clergy of the cathedral city of Barchester. The much loved bishop having died, all expectations are that his son, Archdeacon Grantly, will succeed him. Owing to the passage of the power of patronage to a new Prime Minister, a newcomer, the far more Evangelical Bishop Proudie, gains the see. His wife, Mrs. Proudie, exercises an undue influence over the new bishop, making herself as well as the bishop unpopular with most of the clergy of the diocese. Her interference to veto the reappointment of the universally popular Mr. Septimus Harding (Protagonist of Trollope's earlier novel, The Warden) as warden of Hiram's Hospital is not well received, even though she gives the position to a needy clergyman, Mr Quiverful, with 14 children to support.

Even less popular than Mrs. Proudie is the bishop's new chaplain, the hypocritical and sycophantic Mr. Obadiah Slope, who decides it would be expedient to marry Harding's wealthy widowed daughter, Eleanor Bold. Slope hopes to win her favour by interfering in the controversy over the wardenship. The Bishop or rather Mr. Slope under the orders of Mrs. Proudie, also orders the return of the prebendary Dr. Vesey Stanhope from Italy. Stanhope has been in Italy recovering from a sore throat for 12 years and has spent his time catching butterflies. With him to the Cathedral Close come his wife and their three adult children. The younger of Dr. Stanhope's two daughters causes consternation in the Palace and threatens the plans of Mr. Slope. Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni is a disabled serial flirt with a young daughter and a mysterious Italian husband, whom she has left. Mrs Proudie is appalled and considers her an unsafe influence on her daughters, servants and Mr. Slope. Mr. Slope is drawn like a moth to a flame and cannot keep away. Dr. Stanhope's son Bertie is skilled at spending money but not at making it; his sisters think marriage to rich Eleanor Bold will help.

The Old Dean of the Cathedral having died, Mr. Slope campaigns to become Dean but Mr. Harding is offered the preferment, with a beautiful house in the Close and fifteen acres of garden. Mr. Harding considers himself unsuitable and with the help of the archdeacon, arranges that Mr. Arabin be made Dean. With the Stanhopes' return to Italy, life in the Cathedral Close returns to normal and Mr. Harding continues his life of gentleness and music.

CHAPTER I: Who Will Be the New Bishop?
CHAPTER II: Hiram's Hospital According to Act of Parliament
CHAPTER III: Dr. and Mrs. Proudie
CHAPTER IV: The Bishop's Chaplain
CHAPTER V: A Morning Visit
CHAPTER VI: War
CHAPTER VII: The Dean and Chapter Take Counsel
CHAPTER VIII: The Ex-Warden Rejoices in His Probable Return to the Hospital
CHAPTER IX: The Stanhope Family
CHAPTER X: Mrs. Proudie's Reception—Commenced
CHAPTER XI: Mrs. Proudie's Reception—Concluded
CHAPTER XII: Slope versus Harding
CHAPTER XIII: The Rubbish Cart
CHAPTER XIV: The New Champion
CHAPTER XV: The Widow's Suitors
CHAPTER XVI: Baby Worship
CHAPTER XVII: Who Shall Be Cock of the Walk?
CHAPTER XVIII: The Widow's Persecution
CHAPTER XIX: Barchester by Moonlight
CHAPTER XX: Mr. Arabin
CHAPTER XXI: St. Ewold's Parsonage
CHAPTER XXII: The Thornes of Ullathorne
CHAPTER XXIII: Mr. Arabin Reads Himself in at St. Ewold's
CHAPTER XXIV: Mr. Slope Manages Matters Very Cleverly at Puddingdale
CHAPTER XXV: Fourteen Arguments in Favour of Mr. Quiverful's Claims
CHAPTER XXVI: Mrs. Proudie Wrestles and Gets a Fall
CHAPTER XXVII: A Love Scene
CHAPTER XXVIII: Mrs. Bold is Entertained by Dr. and Mrs. Grantly at Plumstead
CHAPTER XXIX: A Serious Interview
CHAPTER XXX: Another Love Scene
CHAPTER XXXI: The Bishop's Library
CHAPTER XXXII: A New Candidate for Ecclesiastical Honours
CHAPTER XXXIII: Mrs. Proudie Victrix
CHAPTER XXXIV: Oxford—The Master and Tutor of Lazarus
CHAPTER XXXV: Miss Thorne's Fête Champêtre
CHAPTER XXXVI: Ullathorne Sports—Act I
CHAPTER XXXVII: The Signora Neroni, the Countess De Courcy, and Mrs. Proudie Meet Each Other at Ullathorne
CHAPTER XXXVIII: The Bishop Sits Down to Breakfast, and the Dean Dies
CHAPTER XXXIX: The Lookalofts and the Greenacres
CHAPTER XL: Ullathorne Sports—Act II
CHAPTER XLI: Mrs. Bold Confides Her Sorrow to Her Friend Miss Stanhope
CHAPTER XLII: Ullathorne Sports—Act III
CHAPTER XLIII: Mr. and Mrs. Quiverful Are Made Happy. Mr. Slope is Encouraged by the Press
CHAPTER XLIV: Mrs. Bold at Home
CHAPTER XLV: The Stanhopes at Home
CHAPTER XLVI: Mr. Slope's Parting Interview with the Signora
CHAPTER XLVII: The Dean Elect
CHAPTER XLVIII: Miss Thorne Shows Her Talent at Match-Making
CHAPTER XLIX: The Beelzebub Colt
CHAPTER L: The Archdeacon Is Satisfied with the State of Affairs
CHAPTER LI: Mr. Slope Bids Farewell to the Palace and Its Inhabitants
CHAPTER LII: The New Dean Takes Possession of the Deanery, and the New Warden of the Hospital
CHAPTER LIII: Conclusion