A church which has parts dating back to the Battle of Hastings has been preserved for generations to come.

The ancient Old St Helen’s Church in Ore was abandoned and dismantled in 1867, despite the remains of the building containing the family vault of General James Murray, who fought alongside General Wolfe at the Battle of Quebec and later became the first Civil Governor of the Province of Quebec.

The buildings were acquired in 1991 by the Sussex Heritage Trust and, two years ago, it received £470,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. More than 100 volunteers helped with the excavation work before a new staircase and entrance was created.

It was opened by the town’s mayor Alan Roberts with Lord Egremont, President of the Sussex Heritage Trust, and David Tate, a deputy lieutenant of East Sussex.