A giant picture of Mother Teresa created by Swaffham students working in partnership with each other provided a highlight of a London thanksgiving service 15 years after the nun's death.

Students from Sacred Heart School joined the congregation at the Holy Apostles Church in Pimlico on September 5, where mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Westminster.

Preparations for the event started last term, when Sister Linda, who like Mother Teresa was born in Albania, and Mrs Harvey, the head of music, taught pupils and staff a range of hymns, chants, harmonies and instrumental accompaniments to contribute to the special mass.

The picture of the Nobel Peace Prize winner was created when pupils were each given a different square from a larger picture and asked to copy it as accurately as possible. They were then assembled into the final result which was displayed first at St Patrick's Church in Soho and later Holy Apostles Church.

Mary Gargett-Stringer, head of English, said: 'An image that sums it up for me personally and that will remain with me is that of a group of Missionary Sisters, clad in the pure white robes edged with sky blue that were made so familiar to the world by Mother Teresa, animatedly clustering around her picture, excitedly pointing out details to each other. For me it was a poignant and physical demonstration of the coexistence of Jesus' humanity and divinity.'