CHILDREN at a Dorchester school were paid a visit from a friar who entertained and educated them through music and song.

Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic First School attended a special assembly where friar Father Francis Maple got the children involved with sing-a-longs and told them stories and jokes.

Father Maple, who is also a Capuchin friar based in Cheshire, is commonly referred to as ‘the singing friar’ because he is known for singing and playing his acoustic guitar.

The children aged between four and nine were on their best behaviour for the friar, sitting cross-legged on the floor in the assembly hall at the school in Lucetta Lane.

School head teacher Jackie Clayton, said the children were mesmerised by the singing friar who entertained the youngest pupils right through to the oldest during his visit to the school.

Father Priest John Rice, the priest for Holy Trinity Catholic Church in High West Street, asked if the singing friar, Father Maple, could visit the school while he was on a Parish mission for a week.

Throughout his mission he held two services a day in the church as well as visiting the sick and elderly before holding the assembly at the 139-pupil school St Mary’s Catholic First School.

Miss Clayton said the children responded very well to the assembly.

She said: “Father Francis Maple came in and he told funny stories to the children where all of them had some kind of message about living well.

“Many also had a biblical meaning.

“Because he had a sense of humour he was able to engage with them from the youngest to the oldest. All of the children absolutely loved him – he had them eating out of his hand.”

Miss Clayton added: “We had a very positive feedback from the parents saying the children had come home talking about how wonderful he was which is also great to hear.”