Act I
The new priest Petter Kummel, his wife Mona and their little daughter Sanna arrive on the island on Post Anton’s boat. Once at the parsonage, there is a discussion about building a bridge. It turns out that the west and east villagers disagree about everything. Petter and Mona, however, are happy and believe they will stay on the island.
Petter agonises over his first sermon and eventually decides to use his sermon from the year
before, found in his briefcase. The bells toll and the organ plays, the church is full of people, and Petter’s first sermon is a success. The parishioners seem to like him – young women in particular, which Mona observes in anger.
Petter is at sea with Post Anton. Anton tells him that he is told where to go at sea by supernatural guides, dead people whom others can’t see.
The winter has arrived and the sea has frozen over. Everyone finally has access to the mainland. At the same time, there’s talk about the parish being divided into two separate islands, and a bridge-building committee is set up.
Act II
The ice melts, the chorus sings about daily life on the island, and the summer visitors arrive. In the autumn, Post Anton sets off in his boat to the mainland to take Petter to his pastoral exam.
Having returned to the island, Petter says he did poorly in his exam, though he still passed. He had been tired because their former servant, Hilda, had visited him at his hotel and wanted to talk late into the night. Mona is jealous and asks what she wanted, as she knows about a teenage tryst Petter had with Hilda.
It’s Christmas, the weather is stormy, and a ship has sunk off the island of Utö. At Mass, Petter prays for the crew and the islanders discuss the fate of the ship.
Act III
It is summer. Petter is installed as a vicar, the chorus sings about the ice breaking, and everyone is in good spirits. Post Anton, however, has bad forebodings.
Petter goes to hold a memorial service in a house where a child has died. On his way back, he falls through the ice and doesn’t hear the advice of the guides. He almost manages to pull himself up, but after he reaches back for his briefcase he has no strength left.
Petter’s body is found and brought into the parsonage. Mona doesn’t immediately realise that he is dead and wants to be alone with him. She simultaneously misses him and feels anger towards him for leaving her alone. She turns her mind to practicalities and begins to organise the funeral feast.
The islanders congregate to say farewell to Mona and Sanna, who are leaving the island. The bridge is ready and there is a new priest on the island. Post Anton and the chorus sing about memories becoming more distant. Soon the priest and his fate are nothing but a story to be told on the island.