AN historically significant church in Dorset has been awarded more than £1m of lottery funding for crucial repairs.

Milton Abbey, near Blandford, will benefit from £1,249,200, courtesy of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money will be allocated for carrying out repairs to the 14th century building and enhance its integration with gardens designed by Capability Brown.

Funding will go towards fixing the internal and external masonry, as well as the tower windows, ceilings and vaults.

Historic walks and viewpoints in the gardens will be highlighted and public toilets will be installed.

Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, said: “Milton Abbey is one of the gems of the Salisbury Diocese with a deep Benedictine tradition of prayer and hospitality with new opportunities for pilgrimage.

“The Heritage Lottery Fund’s generous support will restore the Abbey, revitalise its internationally significant

Capability Brown landscape, reveal the rich history of the site and breathe new life into this wonderful Christian site for all its visitors.”

Milton Abbey is currently hosting an innovative multimedia exhibition dedicated to the work of Capability Brown, known to many as England’s greatest gardener, on the 300th anniversary of his birth.

Nerys Watts, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “There’s no better time to be embarking on this ambitious project at one of Brown’s most impressive landscapes at Milton Abbey.

“This National Lottery grant will breathe new life into the grade I listed building and surrounding parkland, ensuring visitors can discover its many charms for years to come.”