The Rev Terence Hargreaves-Stead, who recently retired as Vicar of St Paul's, Westleigh, was honoured at an informal reception at Westleigh High School.
Friends including pupils, governors past and present, local authority representatives and staff thanked him for his 35 years service to the school and surrounding community.
The headteacher John Banks thanked Mr Hargreaves-Stead and paid tribute to a "very special person" whose friendship, kindness and support had helped the school to achieve success.
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