A 14th-century church courtyard has been transformed into six business studios following a huge seven-figure makeover.

Murston Old Church in Stadium Way, Sittingbourne, has overseen the creation of the new community arts building.

The hub, known as Murston Heart, is a £1 million project at the centre of the area’s grounds and comprises six purpose-built studios.

The block is designed specifically for creative businesses and is available to rent on short-term leases or for hire on an hourly, daily or weekly basis.

One is currently being used as a community space for workshops, with others functioning as a paper conservator, for vocal coaching, plus two rooms being operated by designers.

The final studio is still available to rent, with a cafe known simply as The Hub also already open.

Designed by architect John Sell, the finished project was unveiled by painter Rose Wylie in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 28.

Murston Heart’s community projects officer, Sioux Peto, said: "The old church building had been on the buildings at-risk register for many years, but has now been beautifully restored to form a gallery space.

"The project has been made possible thanks to the contributions of National Lottery players, as well as support from Swale Borough Council, Historic England and a large number of charities.

"Rose Wylie is also one of the most internationally acclaimed painters working in Britain today.

"She has strong connections with Sittingbourne – having been born in Hythe, but has lived for more than 50 years in a cottage which also serves as her studio just a few miles away from Murston.

"Rose’s late husband Roy Oxlade was also an artist, and they both taught art at the adult education centre in Sittingbourne for a number of years during the 1970s."

One of the studios is being used by online confectionary business owner Jo Langley.

The 45-year-old runs two companies: Make it Sweet and Chocolate Flavours.

She added: “All the products are personalised from the new studio, so it's not a shop where you come in and purchase.

"Our bestsellers are things like our Love Hearts and Tic Tacs.

"People quite often buy the items for weddings, stag and hen nights, and birthdays.

“I just wanted to have more space to grow the business and I believe this will allow me to do that."

The last remaining chancel of the Old Church - a previously derelict and vandalised medieval site - has also been revamped and is now available to hire for events and exhibitions.

It is now known as The Chancel Gallery and is the only remaining part of the original grounds.

The site used to be significantly larger before most of it was demolished in 1873.

A population boom meant a new church was needed to meet demand, with many of the materials recycled to build the existing All Saints Church in Church Road.

The last burial in the old churchyard took place in 1920.

It was then on the verge of extinction as recently as 1976, before being saved and briefly used by the Murston and Bapchild Scout Group.

However, problems with recurring vandalism meant successive repairs were needed - something which led to the site being added to the English Heritage “At Risk” register in 2010.

It has since been classified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument – Historic England’s oldest form of heritage protection – and, in 2014, the Murston All Saints Trust (MAST) was set up to preserve its existence.

Alongside its new features, the site also has a car park and quieter areas labelled as a haven for wildlife.

The grounds are operated by a team of volunteers and will remain open to the public at all times.