Murder Before Evensong ending explained: Who killed Anthony Bowness?

The finale of Murder Before Evensong revealed not one, but two killers after a series of six episodes and four deaths. Throughout the investigation, Canon Daniel Clement remained convinced that an old World War II bunker held the answers to the murders of Anthony Bowness and Ned Thwaites, and his theory ultimately proved correct.

When Daniel couldn’t persuade Detective Sergeant Vanloo that something was wrong, he decided to investigate on his own. He secretly searched the bunker and found the remains of Philip Kerling, a spy who everyone thought had escaped to France during the war in 1944.

After talking to his mother, Audrey, the vicar understood he was in a position of power and began to subtly challenge the killer. His plan involved announcing to his congregation that work would start on a new church toilet, which meant moving the baptismal font – secretly the entrance to a hidden bunker – the next day. Knowing the killer would need to return to get rid of Kerling’s body, Daniel simply waited for them to reappear.

Okay, so the climax finally arrives – our protagonist corners his pursuer in a claustrophobic bunker. It’s a surprisingly calm confrontation. He doesn’t yell, doesn’t threaten, just a cool, almost conversational ‘I knew it was you.’ Then, instead of a fight, he asks for the story to begin, signaling a flashback is coming. It’s a really interesting choice, trading immediate action for a deeper dive into the backstory. It definitely left me wanting to know what happened.

Murder Before Evensong ending explained

Who killed Anthony Bowness and Ned Thwaites?

Daniel was shocked to discover that Kath was the murderer. Caught in the act, the elderly woman admitted to killing both Anthony Bowness and Ned Thwaites. She revealed she’d committed these crimes to hide a murder she committed forty years earlier, in 1944 – the death of Philip Kerling.

Kath told Daniel that she first met Hervé Gauchet, a soldier with the Free French Army, at a village dance when she was younger and living in Champton, and she fell in love with him. She explained that Hervé had escaped France after the Battle of Dunkirk and joined the Special Operations Executive, which meant he frequently traveled to and from France to support the Resistance.

Kath and Dora, both serving in the Special Duties Signal Unit at Champton, had shared the secret of the church bunker with only one other person: Dora’s fiancé, Hervé. Deeply in love, they dreamed of a life together in Provence after the war, but sadly, their happiness wouldn’t last long.

A few months later, Kath and Hervé discovered someone within their group was betraying them when the Germans arrested and executed several members of the SOE and the Resistance. Hervé learned from a contact that the traitor was hiding in Champton, so he immediately returned to France to investigate. While waiting for him to come back, Kath, who had just found out she was pregnant, saw Hervé’s plane fly over the fields near Champton – and then watched in horror as it exploded.

Kath was devastated, but she continued working from the church hideout, where she discovered Kerling was acting suspiciously. A young Bernard de Flouers had been delivering messages for the SOE at the time, and when he reported seeing Kerling near Hervé’s plane, Kath understood he was the traitor, and probably the one who had damaged the aircraft.

Kath was convinced Kerling was a traitor, so he broke into the house they were sharing to find evidence. When Kerling unexpectedly returned and caught him, a struggle began, and Kerling was killed. Realizing the church basement where the incident occurred was about to be closed, Kath tried to hide the crime. He left Kerling’s body in the basement’s crypt and falsified a flight log, making it appear Kerling had flown to France on a mission.

Detectives believed Kerling had betrayed someone and probably escaped, letting Kath live quietly in Champton for four decades. This peace ended when Anthony Bowness, a history enthusiast, arrived. Kath, curious about the village’s wartime past and wanting to find a hidden bunker, followed Anthony to the church the night he was killed. There, she attacked him with garden shears, stabbing him in the neck.

Just as Kath believed she’d successfully hidden her deception, Ned Thwaites, a local journalist, started investigating her claims. When he discovered the flight log had been altered, Kath feared he was closing in on the truth and asked for a private meeting. However, before he could arrive, Kath crept up behind him and fatally slashed his throat, then pushed his body into the river.

Once Kath fully confessed, Daniel stated he would still report her to the authorities, revealing he’d left evidence that would point to her if she tried to harm him. Kath admitted she killed Anthony to shield her sister, Dora, who is terminally ill, from the stress of an arrest and trial. She then asked Daniel to let her see Dora one last time before turning herself in, and he consented.

Who killed Philip Kerling?

Kath told Daniel she’d killed Kerling by striking him with a lamp while they were fighting. However, the vicar didn’t believe her, and after bringing her to see Dora, he discovered the truth.

While having tea, Daniel noticed Kath’s story didn’t quite add up. She first claimed she hit Kerling with a lamp, but earlier said she’d thrown it at him during their argument. Considering Kath couldn’t have picked the lamp up from the floor, Daniel suddenly understood that Dora was the one who had killed Kerling.

Dora knew her sister, Kath, was planning to rob Kerling’s house and followed her there that night. When Dora found them fighting, she struck Kerling with a lamp, and Kath assisted in concealing the crime. It was later revealed that Kath had actually killed Anthony and Ned to protect Dora, not herself.

What really happened to Stella Harper?

Detective Sergeant Neil Vanloo discovered Stella Harper had been poisoned and murdered. While speaking with Daniel, Kath, and Dora, he learned traces of oleander, a deadly plant, were found in her tea.

Audrey called the police, worried about Kath and Dora. When officers arrived, Kath admitted to killing Stella because Stella was about to report Edgy’s threats to the police. Kath didn’t mean to kill Stella, but she knew that if Stella went to the police, it would destroy Kath’s alibi for the night Ned died.

After Ned was murdered, Stella phoned Dora and Kath to tell them the news, and Dora went to Stella’s to comfort her. However, because Kath had already told the police she and Dora were both home that night, they would have known Stella wasn’t telling the truth and hadn’t been with her sister, Dora, either.

What happened to Kath and Dora?

Knowing the police were about to arrest them, Kath and Dora told Daniel they’d been drinking tea that had been poisoned. Kath quickly added, “I made sure yours was okay, so don’t worry,” meaning she hadn’t poisoned his drink.

As the sisters felt their lives slipping away, they asked Daniel to pray for them, and he hesitantly agreed. Sadly, they both died before the doctor and police arrived.

What’s next for Daniel?

This season has been difficult for Daniel. After leaving Kath and Dora’s house following his time with the police, he went to the church to think things through. His mother, Audrey, joined him, and he confessed that when Kath asked for a prayer, his first instinct wasn’t to offer forgiveness, but to condemn her. Audrey comforted Daniel and led him outside, where they shared a lighthearted moment together.

The series ended on a positive note for Daniel, leaving him in a stable and hopeful situation. He’s secure in his role as vicar, his relationship with his mother is improving, and the mystery of the village murders has been resolved. He also proved to be a surprisingly capable detective, solving the case before the police. Given the number of books in the Reverend Richard Coles series, there’s ample opportunity for more television episodes if Channel 5 and Acorn TV decide to continue the show.

Murder Before Evensong is available to stream on 5.

2025-11-11 21:37