Schoolchildren have received encouragement from a bishop ahead of performing an opera.

Children from Symondsbury Primary School have been rehearsing Noyes Fludde, the one-act community opera written by Benjamin Britten.

During a rehearsal in St Swithun’s Church, Allington, they had a surprise visitor.

The Right Reverend Stephen Lake, Bishop of Salisbury since April 2022, dropped in to hear the rehearsal and to encourage the performers and organizers.

Bishop Stephen said: “It was a great joy to drop in on the children during their rehearsal and to see and hear their enthusiasm for this retelling of the centuries-old mystery play.

"Benjamin Britten always intended performances of Noyes Fludde to be held in church halls and churches, so it was wonderful to see it being performed in St Swithun’s.”

The opera they were rehearsing was written in 1957 and has been a favourite with children’s groups and local community music groups ever since.

It tells the story of Noah’s Ark and the large children’s choir represents the procession of animals as they board the ark to escape the flood.

The performance is under the direction of Matt Kingston, a local composer, musician and parent at the school, and teacher and musician Ruth Wakefield.

Teacher Ms Wakefield said: “We were due to perform the opera just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and it sadly had to be cancelled.

“We are so delighted to stage the work at St Swithun’s and the story’s message of hope and new life is especially poignant. This really is a celebration of the children’s resilience and the power of community collaboration."

The production by Symondsbury School draws upon the talents of professional and amateur local musicians, an array of supporters and helpers from the community and the musical efforts of every pupil, from older children taking lead solo roles to the smallest child in the chorus.

Canon Deb Smith, Rector of Bridport, said: “We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome this wonderful group of musicians and this lovely children’s choir here.

"The sound is wonderful and the enthusiasm is infectious. St Swithun’s has great plans for the future and events like this are very much part of our vision.”

The Revd. Chris Grasske, Rector of the Colmer and Eggardon Benefice that includes Symondsbury, said how much he was looking forward to the performance and congratulated the children, staff, parents and all the supporters of Symondsbury Primary School on their hard work and engagement with this powerful Old Testament story.