An East Hampshire church with 1,000 years of history has been blessed with £18,500 in grants from three supportive groups.

The Wolfson Foundation, National Churches Trust and Benefact Trust have given funding to St Hubert’s Idsworth to help with a multi-phase repair and conservation programme.

Some of the funding will go towards improving rainwater dispersal and collection at ‘the little church in the field’ that’s seen by thousands of rail commuters every day between Rowlands Castle and Petersfield.

The work carried out during late summer and early autumn will also help preserve the fabric of the church, which contains nationally important medieval wall paintings that date to the 1330s.

It’s part of a greater programme that will ensure the picturesque church in the Idsworth Valley is maintained for the next generation and beyond.

The grants are “really excellent news” according to John Bannell, churchwarden and buildings officer at St Hubert’s.