The medieval Abbey at Sutton Courtenay could be given a £3m restoration - but organisers have first been told to raise nearly half the money themselves.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has offered the charity The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay, £1.8m but director Sharon Usher said it would need to find the rest.

She said: "We have taken advice from professionals and they say we need a charity champion, someone who can get into the big grant- giving and funding organisations to boost our own funds.

"We have been helped by our patrons, Hugo Brunner the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, local MP Ed Vaizey, and the Bishop of Reading the Rt Rev Stephen Cotterill, but we still need that main champion."

Preparation work for the restoration project is being done now, but the project itself cannot take place before a planning application has been approved by the Vale of White Horse District Council and the cash has been found.

Once it starts, the restoration will take about a year. It is hoped to start in 2008.

The 800-year-old building has always been a religious centre since it was built as part of the great Benedictine monastery of Abingdon, and retains its Christian tradition as the charity 'The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay'.

Abingdon architects and town planners West Waddy ADP have been appointed to make a conservation management plan which will lead to the restoration programme.

West Waddy ADP partner Steve Simkins said: "We are delighted to be involved in the restoration of such an important building.

"We will be involved in preparing the proposals, engaging with English Heritage and working with the local planning authority this summer in order to gain listed building consent for the work."

The Abbey is run by a small resident community which aims to offer space for spiritual and practical work and reflection.

It does not cater exclusively for Christians as it is open to other faiths.

Once the restoration is complete the charity will carry on with its work but will have more space inside the building and will extend into the adjoining purpose-built guest house.