A 1,000-year-old abbey that survived a Viking raid and the destruction of monasteries has been renovated.

Minster Abbey, off Church Street in Minster, Sheppey, was in a state of disrepair before a raft of repairs gave it a new lease of life.

Work included fixing the crumbling outer wall and the reconstruction of the lychgate and east entrance wall.

The stone path from the south entrance was levelled and a sinkhole in the churchyard was filled.

It all cost £13,981 and was paid for out of Swale council’s Improvement and Resilience Fund and closed churchyard reserves.

The building is officially named The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Sexburgha.

This name comes from the Anglo-Saxon monarch Queen Sexburgha who had it built in 664 as a monastery. Almost 100 nuns called it home during this period.

However, it was nearly destroyed during a Viking raid in the ninth century and was further damaged in the 11th century.

It was rebuilt in the 12th century with two churches being added.

It was these churches, which were linked to the Abbey by arches in the wall, that meant it was spared during Henry VIII’s dissolution of England’s monasteries.

Minster Abbey is an important part of the Island’s history and features the Gatehouse Museum and is home to artefacts such as the de Northwode brasses dating back to 1330.

The Grade I-listed church sits on the highest point on the island, overlooking the village.

Cllr Mike Baldock, the heritage champion of Swale, said that while the works are part of the council’s statutory duties, the authority was “proud” to make the repairs so the church “can be enjoyed by future generations”.

He added: “Minster Abbey has been a symbol of resilience for over 1,000 years and perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Isle of Sheppey.

“The historical value of the church is incredible; surviving defining events in England’s history and even incorporates Roman elements within the architecture, having been built on an ancient outpost.

“To this day the Abbey serves as an important place of worship for local residents, and as a fitting monument to Swale's rich pre-Norman heritage and it deserves our respect and care.

“We have put an emphasis on making quality repairs to our closed churchyards which are fitting of the beauty of our historic assets, not just ugly patch repairs which will create additional costs down the line.”