A MEDIEVAL church near Andover is undergoing a £84,200 spring makeover – courtesy of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Work has already started on re-roofing and modernising Holy Trinity in Penton Mewsey, and is expected to be complete in June this year.

The project’s aim is to renew the roof of the 14thcentury church, which is in a poor condition, while at the same time improving the facilities in the church by the addition of a small kitchen and wheelchair-accessible WC.

Christopher Peacocke, project leader said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are looking forward to maintaining the heritage of this wonderful church with its historical features and bringing it into the centre of the community.”

Sir George Young, MP said “My home in Penton Mewsey overlooks the church of Holy Trinity, where I regularly worship.

“I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has so generously supported the restoration of this lovely historic building for the benefit of the community.”

With this sympathetic internal modernisation the church can play a much more active role in the cultural life of the village and the surrounding area by offering facilities for meetings, concerts, lectures and exhibitions to complement its spiritual function.

The church was originally built in about 1365 and it is thought to be on the site of an earlier church.

The south wall of the chancel was rebuilt in 1888, but the remainder of the church is original with the exception of the vestry.

Of considerable note is the original stone bellcote and its two original bells.

It is one of only eight medieval bellcotes to have survived nationally.

The roof is considered to be largely original despite a fire in 1889.