A 14th century church in the grounds of a Victorian mansion house has been recommissioned, nearly five years since it last held a service.

The Church of St Leonard at Wroxall Abbey held its first service since before the pandemic on Sunday 26 March, with the pews full of local people.

Since the hotel reopened at the end of last year under the management of ONS International, after falling into administration, the new owners said they were committed to getting the building open again.

Company director Paresh Thakkar told Nub News in October he wanted to the church to be open in time for Christmas.

And while the project has taken slightly longer than planned, it is now open for regular services once again.

"It's a beautiful location, it is a beautiful venue, and it's a shame that such a historic asset sits there unused," he said last year.

While Wroxall is now a hotel and wedding venue, it was originally founded as a Benedictine nunnery by Hugh fitz Richard of Hatton in the middle of the 12th century.

Wroxall Abbey reopened in October under the management of ONS International (image supplied)

The priory stood in place until 1536 when it was dissolved during Henry VIII's monastic dissolution.

The church was built in around 1315, originally part of the priory itself, and is the only element that remains standing.

In recent history it was made into a cathedral of the Free Methodist Church but has been returned to the Church of England under the new owners.

The current manor house was built in 1866, and was run as a school from 1963 and 1996.

The hotel this week posted on social media: "Last weekend we opened the Church of St. Leonard at Wroxall.

"It was a pleasure to see such a fantastic turnout and welcome back members of the community to this historic venue.

"Services will run weekly from 4pm with complimentary refreshments served in the hotel afterwards."

Paresh son and fellow business director Kishan Thakkar told Nub News the history of the site is key to what the family-run business wants to achieve there.

"This place carries a lot of heritage with it, there's that regal feel and we need to bring it back to that standard," he said last October.

"There is work to be done but ultimately there are a lot of people who believe in this place and love this place for the bricks and mortar that it is."

(Header image by Robin Stott via goegraph.org.uk)