AN historically significant church in Dorset has been awarded more than a million pounds of lottery funding for crucial repairs.

Milton Abbey, near Blandford Forum, 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 Revd 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.”

Magnus Bashaarat, headteacher of Milton Abbey School, said that the Abbey was the “beating heart” of the school.

He added: “It is intrinsic to life at Milton Abbey and a key communal place in which our pupils gather and spend time on a weekly basis.

“It is truly fantastic to know that these essential repairs can take place to preserve the Abbey for visitors and pupils alike in years to come.”