A Mortlake church was packed to the rafters as 270 people said farewell to Reverend Canon Peggy Jackson after 11 years of service.

On May 31 Rev Jackson will begin her role as the Archdeacon of Llandaff, be named priest in charge of the parishes of Penmark with Llancarfan with Llantrithyd and become the most senior woman cleric in Wales.

She arrived in the borough in 1998 after being appointed rector of the Parish of Mortlake with East Sheen.

Rev Jackson said she relished the appointment because of the “stimulating and attractive” location and described the rewards of working with the people of Mortlake as “very rich”.

“We discovered what we already knew in theory - that there is a good deal of affection for the church in the community,” she added.

Rev Jackson believed her most important achievement was helping the area’s three churches open during the day.

The former chairman of the Mortlake Community Association (MCA) explained developing the relationship between the church and the community was another success story to come out of her time here.

She helped revitalise the MCA and secured funding for a community development coordinator to prevent the area becoming cut off from services.

Describing her recent appointment, Rev Jackson said: “An opportunity was given to me - a very exciting opportunity to work with the Arch Bishop of Wales.

“People are happy for me and sad that I am going and that’s rather how I feel too.

“It is always the case that we have to move on but the parting is always difficult.

“Mortlake and Richmond borough will always be a special place to me.”

Her goodbye service took place on May 10 at St Mary the Virgin where memories of her time were shared.