Glory is the 38-year-old youngest sibling of the Boughton family. A former English teacher, she returns to Gilead recovering from a broken five-year engagement to a married man, though she protects her pride by telling her family she is secretly married. She maintains the household and carefully shields her father from difficult memories. While she dutifully reads her Bible daily, Jack's unexpected presence prompts her to question whether her faith stems from genuine conviction or mere routine. She slowly steps into a maternal caretaker role for her newly returned brother, despite harboring initial mistrust.

Jack is the prodigal son of the Boughton family who returns home seeking a fresh start and reconciliation. He carries a scandalous reputation from his youth, heavily marked by his alcoholism and his abandonment of a young local girl. Restless and uncomfortable in his father's house, he spends his time repairing an abandoned DeSoto car in the barn. He maintains a deep interest in civil rights, obsessively following the Montgomery protests on television while questioning his father's old-fashioned views on segregation.

Robert is a retired, widowed Presbyterian minister and the aging patriarch of the Boughton family. He fiercely loves his children and eagerly anticipates Jack's return, hoping to finally bridge the divide between them before his death. He clings strictly to nostalgic memories of Gilead's past, refusing to accept the societal shifts occurring across the country. His unrelenting desire to forgive Jack constantly clashes with his inability to understand his son's changing perspective on religion and race.

Teddy is an older Boughton sibling who works as a successful doctor. He serves as a sharp contrast to Jack, bringing instant calm and stability to their aging father. Despite his professional success, he remains deeply affected by Jack's absence, having secretly traveled to St. Louis six times over two decades in an attempt to locate his wayward brother.

Reverend Ames is a local clergyman and Robert Boughton's lifelong closest confidant. He harbors a deep distrust of Jack, who is his namesake, often preaching sermons about abandoned children that implicitly criticize Jack's past actions. Despite this tension, Ames frequently visits the Boughton household to engage in intense theological debates regarding grace and predestination.

Lila is the young wife of Reverend John Ames. She provides a quiet but firm presence in the Ames household, occasionally surprising the older clergymen with her open-minded theological views. She openly asserts her belief that anyone possesses the capacity to change, offering a rare voice of optimism regarding redemption.

Robby is the young son of Reverend John Ames and Lila. He occasionally plays catch with Jack, offering Jack a rare opportunity for simple, unconditional connection during his fraught visit home. His presence highlights the innocence that the older generations strive to protect.

Della is Jack's common-law wife from his life outside Gilead, having lived with him for nine years. She is the central focus of his daily trips to the post office, as he writes to her daily in hopes of returning to their life together. Her unreturned letters heavily influence Jack's emotional state and his attempts to maintain sobriety.

Young Robert is the son of Jack and Della. He represents Jack's connection to a life outside of Iowa and embodies Jack's deep hopes for building a stable family, despite the immense distance currently separating them.

Annie is a local girl from Gilead whom Jack impregnated and abandoned during their youth. The tragic death of her infant from an infection remains a dark shadow over Jack's reputation and Robert Boughton's conscience.

Grace is one of Glory and Jack's older sisters. Her departure from the family home shifted the family dynamic permanently, leaving Glory alone to manage their aging parents and inherit the mantle of household caretaker.

Snowflake is the long-deceased Boughton family horse. Though gone, Snowflake's lingering presence—represented by a trough and bridle remaining in the barn—symbolizes the idealized, pastoral version of Gilead's past that Robert Boughton refuses to let go of.