THE people of Mere, West Knoyle and Maiden Bradley have said farewell to their popular curate, Jill Perrett, who conducted her last service in Mere on Sunday.

The Reverend Perrett has been appointed priest in charge of Atworth with Shaw and Whitley, near Melksham, and will be licensed on July 20.

Her new role includes additional responsibilities within the Melksham group of churches for secondary education, something she is particularly looking forward to.

"I have been involved in youth work in Mere and that has been a real blessing," said Mrs Perrett, who was based at St Mark's Church in Salisbury while doing her theological training.

"I enjoy working with young people and building relationships with schools.

"The Mere benefice has provided good training - each of the churches is different and the communities.

"It has been a very positive experience and I will miss it - in a rural community you get a good sense of belonging."

Priest in charge of St Thomas and St Edmund in Salisbury, the Reverend David Linaker was vicar of Mere during most of Mrs Perrett's curacy.

He said: "Jill was a great colleague. A significant part of her ministry was conducted in school and around the school gate, so it is a natural step for her to want to build that into her next post a bit more formally."

Mrs Perrett has been in the Mere benefice for just five years, but such is her popularity that parishioners organised a special lunch in the Grove Buildings following Sunday's service at which she was guest of honour.

She was presented with a number of gifts, including a stole, specially made for her, which will form part of her clergy's regalia, a cheque and a bottle of champagne.

Parishioners also wrote their thanks and good wishes in an inscribed book.

Mrs Perrett and her husband Tony, who is head of property maintenance for housing association Testway Housing in Andover, have four sons.