A church with a royal pedigree received a major windfall from a woman who left almost £2 million in her will.

Lady Cicely Mary Dixey, who died on August 7 last year, left £40,000 to St Nicholas Church, Bramber, near Steyning.

She stipulated the money had to be spent on the building itself, which dates back to 1073 and is the oldest Norman church in Sussex.

Several English monarchs, including King John and Edward I, are known to have worshipped at St Nicholas, which was also used by crusaders.

Father Timothy L'Estrange, rector of three churches in Beeding, Bramber and Botolphs, said country churches such as St Nicholas's depended on money left in wills to survive.

Fr L'Estrange said: "Lady Cicely was very prominent in village life, although she was not a churchgoer.

"Everybody knew her and she was much loved and well-respected.

"Her interest in the church was in the building rather than anything else.

"The money is very welcome. Bramber is a very small community and regular income doesn't come anywhere near paying for the building.

"Like many small village churches, we are completely dependent on these bequests.

"Without them, village churches wouldn't be here anymore."

The cash will be spent on rebuilding stone windows, reglazing the vestry window, treating the main wooden door, renovating the lead flashing on the tower and roof, mending a small leak in the nave roof and renovating an uneven path.

Lady Cicely, who lived in High Street, Bramber, before moving to Steyning in the mid-Nineties, also left shares in her £1.9 million estate to St Barnabas Hospice, based in Columbia Drive, West Durrington, Worthing.

The hospice declined to reveal their value.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind was given a further £20,000.