The Vicar of Bray, by Sydney Grundy and Edward Solomon, was first produced at the Globe Theatre on 22 July 1882. It was revised and revived at the Savoy Theatre on 28 January 1892 where it ran for 143 performances.

It is based on The History of Sandford and Merton, a series of 18th century moral tales, and "The Vicar of Bray," a song about a clever cleric who manages to survive the religious policies of five British monarchs. Winifred, daughter of the Vicar of Bray, is in love with her father's curate, the poor (but pompous) Harry Sandford. The Vicar wants her to marry wealthy Tommy Merton, son of the local widowed landowner.

In order to facilitate this marriage, the Vicar switches from Low to High Church, a move which so offends Harry that he agrees to take a curacy among the Casowaries.

The opera requires five choruses: a group of children attached to the schools of Bray; their lady school teachers; divinity students who are in love with the teachers; Tommy Merton's gentrified friends; and the local corps de ballet, led by the enchanting Nelly Bly.