Most notably, between 1998 and 2006 the Dorchester Abbey Campaign, led by Hugo Brunner (Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire), raised £4million for the Trust for major repairs and refurbishment, the objective being to make the building more welcoming and adaptable for many different uses. This programme has completed an impressive list of projects including:

• Installing central heating; constructing a cloister-like annex to house the boilers and Cloister Gallery
• Re-tiling three-quarters of the roof
• Redecorating the whole of the interior with traditional limewash
• New entrance arrangements with an etched glass draught lobby
• Making the Shrine Chapel a large open space with York stone floor
• Repairing the chancel floor and the chancel wall sconces
• New altar cross and candlesticks by silversmith Rod Kelly
• New seating and altar rails for the Birinus Chapel
• Creating the award-winning Cloister Gallery display
• Restoring and uncovering medieval wall paintings
• New accommodation in the tower for kitchen, choir and storage
• Rebuilding the organ and improving access to the organ loft
• Refurbishing the sacristy
• Repairing and re-gilding the clock face, installing a new sundial, conserving the effigies
• A new cross for the Cloister Garden
• New choir stalls (read about the start of this project on Philip Koomen's blog)

But, despite the huge amount achieved, the works do not end there. The architects expect that the northeast face of the roof will need retiling within ten years, essential maintenance on heating and electrical systems, guttering and drainage must be kept up, and there is a backlog of repairs needed on the Guest House.