Rev Jane Ball was appointed vicar in charge of the four parishes after the previous incumbent, Rev Terry Louden, left in 2013.
There was standing room only in All Saints for her farewell service, at which she was accompanied by husband Jonathon, who is also an ordained priest and is a Royal Marines chaplain.
Afterwards she was presented with a framed watercolour painting of the four churches in the Upper Meon Benefice, and a huge bottle of gin.
She had some wonderful comments about her time as a parish priest here and was grateful for her time to experience community and the lives of her parishioners.
She said: “I have some advice for brides-to-be – be careful how your dress fits. In my time I have seen some interesting movements in body versus dress!”
While thanking everyone for their good wishes and support over the past seven and a half years, she finished with a prayer: “Regardless of your faith, the answer is God – only God has the words of eternal life. God and faithfulness, doubts and uncertainties, but where else would we go?”
The Upper Meon Benefice is looking forward to welcoming Rev Philippa Good, who will be licensed at All Saints Church in East Meon on Sunday, August 29, at 6pm.