Faith Carter was introduced in Season 2 of When Calls the Heart. She is played by Andrea Brooks.
Background[]
Faith Carter was from Hamilton. She became a nurse to be like her mother, who was also a nurse and died when she was 10. She first met Jack while working at the hospital in Hamilton to care for Thomas Thornton after his accident. She worked as a nurse in Hamilton, Union City, and Hope Valley. She ran the Infirmary alone as a nurse before the arrival of Dr. Carson Shepherd. They ran the Infirmary together while he was in Hope Valley, but after he left, Faith ran it as a solo practitioner with Molly's assistance. As of Season 10, she was single, although she had been in a few previous relationships, including a broken engagement.
Storyline[]
Season 2[]
Faith was first introduced in season 2, as the nurse caring for Jack's brother Tom Thornton. Jack and Faith struck up a friendship, but lost touch when Jack and Elizabeth left Hamilton.
Season 3[]
Faith had begun working as a nurse for Dr. Burns in Union City. He sent her to Hope Valley to take care of Lee after he injured his foot in a workplace accident. Elizabeth was a little jealous of Faith and Jack’s friendship. However, at that time, Faith was engaged to a wealthy banker named Peter Filmore. Later, he showed up to take her back to Union City, but Faith decided she wanted to stay in Hope Valley and broke off their engagement.
Season 4[]
In season 4, Faith continued to work at the infirmary and railroad worker Ray Wyatt started to show interest in her. He became pushy when she declined his advances.
Faith shared a brief relationship with Shane Cantrell, a widower with a young son.
Faith was the first medical professional to diagnose Cody with appendicitis and she was instrumental in saving his life. She administered medication and kept watch over him until Carson was able to perform appendectomy surgery, which she assisted with.
Season 5[]
Season 6[]
Faith and Carson had been working closely together at the Infirmary, and were beginning to develop feelings for each other. This was complicated by Faith's reservations due to their being coworkers. Rosemary noticed a spark between them and invited Carson and Faith over for a dinner party. Afterwards, Carson made an offhanded comment that upset Faith. After discussing the situation with Lee, Carson decided to be more direct about his feelings. Faith was still wary of forming a romantic attachment with a coworker. Eventually, Faith decided to give their relationship a chance, and the two shared their first kiss and picnic date. At first, Carson and Faith tried to keep their relationship a secret, but most people figured it out or at least suspected they were together. They decided to stop hiding their relationship and had their first public kiss.
Faith hadn't spoken to her father, David Carter, in years due to their disagreement about her becoming a nurse. He opposed the decision because of the death of Faith's mother, who was a nurse and had died of a disease she caught from a patient. Carson urged her to call her father, but Faith was reluctant. Eventually, Carson took matters into his own hands, asking Fiona to look up the phone number. Faith and her father talked on the phone for the first time and started to rebuild their relationship. After David had a heart attack, Faith visited him and helped with his medical care while getting him set up at her brother's house.
Season 7[]
After discussing her university coursework with Carson, Faith revealed that she'd considered becoming a doctor, but never applied to medical school. Carson learned that it would soon become harder to become a doctor because of the standardization of medical schools, but for the time being, Faith could finish the required university courses and then intern under his supervision. He encouraged Faith to pursue medical school before the requirements were changed. Faith was accepted at the University of Chicago, and left town to pursue her studies.
Season 8[]
Faith is due to return from medical school where she completed her last classes to become a doctor. She did not arrive on the first or second coach but instead drove into town literally on a wagon with a random male, Brett, who she met along the road where her coach had broken down. She hadn't had time for letters or calling since she had been busy working really hard to finish as soon as possible to return to Carson. [1]
Faith and Carson are a little awkward at first with Faith asking Carson why he is so quiet and him replying her entrance surprised him but he was quick to say that her surprises is what he loves about her. To prove he still loves her, they have a touching moment at the bridge where he admits he was a little jealous of the cowboy she rode in with. [2]
Faith immediately starts to use her new medical doctor training along side of Carson. Where Carson is more a matter of a fact, Faith takes time to explain things in a way people can understand such as when Carson recommended a chiropractor for Lee, she was able to explain why. [3] Carson and Faith begin to have slight disagreements about patients though such as when Ned comes into the infirmary with an injured ankle. Being second guessed causes Faith to run to her friends Fiona and Clara obviously upset. She and Fiona bond over chocolate cake. Faith then confronts Carson telling him about her time training as a doctor. The doctors did not respect her at all. She says although Carson says he respects her as a doctor, he needs to show her that he does. [4] Faith tries to talk to him about it again saying she is worried they will need to stop working together or stop seeing each other but Carson promises they will talk later as neither is a good choice. Carson did step up showing he loved her but giving her a special medicine bag with her name on it. [5]
Faith notices Carson holding a letter from a man, Dr. Rizzoli, he assisted earlier in a surgery. When questioned, he said it was just a letter thanking him for helping. Later when confronted, Carson tells Faith that the letter is a job opportunity giving Carson the chance to operate in the big city of Baltimore at John Hopkins! Faith is happy for him but also declines when he offers her to go with him as they are not married and she is needed here. [6] When Faith sees another letter come through, she realizes that Carson turned down the job. She is upset and tells him to take the job despite Carson assuming wrongly she would be happy for him to stay. She is worried he will regret it if he stays. [7]
After helping Angela after a fall, Carson and Faith realize the infirmary is in need of a serious upgrade. New equipment would greatly help them to better care for their town. [8] They also feel the same way after performing a surgery on Ned after his gallbladder explodes. Ned survives thankfully. [9] Faith and Carson (especially Carson) make plans for upgrading the infirmary. Faith still feels as though he should take the fellowship but fears the only way he would if she were to go with him. She does not want to go believing she needs to stay here much to the dismay of Carson who suddenly wants to take the fellowship in Baltimore. [10] Carson will be gone for two years leaving Faith worried he won't ever want to return to Hope Valley even after his fellowship has completed. [11]
Faith does not know but Carson plans to propose before he leaves Hope Valley but is worried that he will. Carson really wants Faith to go with him to Baltimore. [12] Carson loses the ring before he can propose only to have it found just before he leaves. [13] In the end, he does leave and Faith is relieved he didn't propose and is confident she is making the right decision by staying. When he leaves, Faith thought he wouldn't go but he does. [14]
Faith carries on caring for the town of Hope Valley starting to tending to Nathan's injured hand. When questioned by him how she was doing, she said it was like any wound, it will take time to heal. [14]
Season 9[]
Faith secretly hangs up her own sign in the infirmary. [15] Faith treated Nathan for injuries sustained when a car hit him while on his horse. [16] Faith is asked by Mike to join him for dinner at the salon. He said she was able to make hard decisions and he needed advice on how to do that. [17] Faith also cares for Bill who is coughing up blood. She wishes she had an x-ray machine to see if he had broken ribs after a fight. [18] Faith also treats Rosemary getting to share with her the signs of pregnancy.
Faith asked Mike for the town to help her pay for an x-ray machine but Mike refuses saying she can grow and raise it herself. [1] Faith makes the decision to change the infirmary to solely hers burning the old sign in the bonfire to show she is starting over. [2]
Faith apologizes to Mei after she was arrested due to Geoffrey. Faith explains she called to find out about Mei and that is what probably told Geoffrey Mei's location. [3]
Faith began to develop romantic feelings for Nathan, but was conflicted about acting on them because of their doctor/patient relationship. She tells Molly. Molly tells her that it's ok to have feelings for a patient. When Faith sees Mei has returned and is talking to Nathan, she says she feels relieved. [4]
Season 10[]
in 1920, Faith was still working as the only doctor in town, assisted by Molly. Faith moved into the rooms above the café with Mei and Fiona. She still had feelings for Nathan, and they even attempted to have a relationship with each other, but she realized his heart was elsewhere and put a stop to it.
Faith’s skills as a doctor were put to the test during the delivery of Goldie Coulter, as the labor went on for a long time and Rosemary began to show signs of distress. After Lee came to be by her side, Rosemary safely delivered Goldie into the world.
Amid the water crisis, Nathan found an unresponsive man in the woods. Faith examined him and found he was severely dehydrated. She treated him with rest, fluids and salt tablets, but he was resistant to being treated by a female doctor. At first, Faith had Mike Hickam pretend to be the doctor so the patient would cooperate, but eventually the truth came out. The patient recovered and went on his way.
Season 11[]
In spring 1921, Faith was continuing in her work as a doctor, but felt lonely after seeing her friends Mei and Fiona move on with their lives. Mei was spending a lot of time with Mike Hickam, and Fiona had chosen to remain in Nashville for good. Minnie reassured Faith that even if she felt lonely, she was not alone. A patient from Jameson named Dora Watson and her granddaughter Lily came into the doctor’s office. Dora was feeling ill and had a cough. Faith prescribed treatment, but a little while later, Dora collapsed in the mercantile, suffering from a cardiac event. Faith arranged for Dora to be transported to the cardiac ward at the Union City hospital. Faith learned that Dora was Lily’s only living relative, and Dora asked Faith to look after Lily while she was recovering.[19]
After Dora was discharged from the hospital, she saw how close Lily and Faith had become. She asked Faith to become Lily’s permanent guardian/foster mother due to her age and health concerns, and Dora would visit as often as possible.[20]
Relationship[]
Family[]
- David Carter (father): Faith and David didn't speak for a number of years after she decided to become a nurse. He disagreed with her choice of profession because of her mother's death. After Carson put them back in touch, Faith and her father rebuilt their relationship, and she went to Hamilton to spend time with him after his heart attack.
- Unnamed mother: Faith's mother was a nurse and died of typhoid fever, which she caught from a patient, when Faith was 10. Faith looked up to her mother and wanted to become a nurse to be like her.
- Lily Watson (foster daughter): Lily came into Faith’s care in 1921, after her grandmother Dora took ill and was hospitalized. Faith and Lily bonded closely with each other, and Lily began calling her “Auntie Faith.” After Dora was discharged, she knew she wasn’t strong enough to care for Lily full-time anymore, and seeing how close Faith and Lily had become, she asked Faith to become Lily’s permanent guardian.
Romance[]
- Carson Shepherd: Carson and Faith were in a relationship in Seasons 6-8, which began after they had been working together at the Infirmary. Carson helped Faith reconnect with her estranged father and supported her decision to attend medical school. Carson bought a ring and planned to propose. Unfortunately, their relationship ended when Carson decided to take a fellowship at Johns Hopkins.
- Nathan Grant: Faith developed feelings for Nathan in Season 9 after he was hit by a car and she treated him for his injuries. She felt conflicted due to their doctor/patient relationship. They tried to have a romantic relationship, but Faith could sense that there was something in the way, which ended up being Nathan's lingering love for Elizabeth.
- Peter Filmore: Faith and Peter were engaged, but he wanted her to leave Hope Valley and stop nursing altogether. Faith realized that she and Peter didn't want the same things, and she ended their engagement, choosing to stay in Hope Valley.
- Shane Cantrell
Friends[]
Quotes[]
- "Don't forget who you are." (to Tom Thornton)
Trivia[]
- Despite not appearing in the first season, Faith has appeared in every season since the second one.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 S9E7. Hope Valley Days, Part 1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 S9E7. Hope Valley Days, Part 1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 S9E8. Hope Valley Days, Part 2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 S9E12. Rock, a Bye, Baby
- ↑ S8E4. Welcome to Hope Valley
- ↑ S8E5. What the Heart Wants
- ↑ S8E6. No Regrets
- ↑ S8E5. What the Heart Wants
- ↑ S8E7. Before My Very Eyes
- ↑ S8E8. A Parade and a Charade
- ↑ S8E9. Pre-Wedding Jitters
- ↑ S8E11. Changing Times
- ↑ S8E11. Changing Times
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 S8E12. The Kiss
- ↑ S9E1. In Like a Lion
- ↑ S9E2. Out Like a Lamb
- ↑ S9E6. Past, Present, Future
- ↑ S9E8. Hope Valley Days, Part 2
- ↑ S11E01: “When Stars Align”
- ↑ S11E10, “What Goes Around”