A church near Andover has received £25,000 to save a “much-loved” building that was in danger of becoming “beyond repair.”

St Michael’s Church, in Quarley, was given the grant by the Culture Recovery Fund to help conduct urgent repairs to the roof. The churchyard is also a nationally important site due to the diversity of plants and animals found there.

Churchwardens said they were “delighted” with the grant, and say it will make a “significant difference” in their restoration plans.

St Michael’s Church dates back almost a thousand years, having thought to have been built in the 11th Century by Anglo-Saxons. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, and some of the features of the original chapel are still present in the building.

Over the years, there have been various works carried out on the building, including the addition of a venetian window in 1723 and arches added as part of a restoration in 1882. The churchyard was later designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, with the chalk meadow providing for a variety of important species of wildflowers, insects and birds.

However, since then, the roof has fallen into a bad state, with the nails securing tiles on the roof having corroded, with the building at danger of water damage and accidents caused by falling tiles.

Following an application to the Culture Recovery Fund, the church has been given a lifeline grant of £25,000 to allow it to carry out these vital repairs, which churchwardens said could have seen the building becoming “beyond repair.”

Churchwardens Joanna Ferguson and Alison Thompson said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the Culture Recovery Fund. It will make a significant difference to the work we need to carry out to St. Michael’s so that the church can continue to play an important part in the life of our community.”

The grant is part of a wider £1.57 billion initiative to assist artistic and heritage organisations across the country. Of this, £138 million has been made available to heritage causes.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive, said: “Historic places across the country are being supported by the Government’s grants awarded under the Culture Recovery Fund. This funding is a lifeline which is kick-starting essential repairs and maintenance at many of our most precious historic sites, so they can begin to recover from the damaging effects of COVID-19.

“It is also providing employment for skilled craft workers who help keep historic places alive and the wheels of the heritage sector turning. Our shared heritage is an anchor for us all in these challenging times and this funding will help to ensure it remains part of our collective future.”