Rochester Cathedral will receive £200,000 towards the cost of urgent repairs to its library and vestry roof.

The news that Medway's cathedral will be one of the first to benefit from the government's new First World War Centenary Cathedral repair fund.

It was announced by culture secretary Sajid Javid this morning.

He said: "We are ensuring these magnificent buildings are preserved for future generations so they continue to serve their communities and congregations.

"This fund is just one part of the government's preparations to ensure the UK is ready to remember and mark the heroic sacrifice so many made a century ago."

The fund will allow cathedrals to carry out urgent repair work to keep these historic buildings open and serving the community.

At Rochester, the money will help pay for repairs to its pre-reformation library, vestry roof and other external issues.

Sir Paul Ruddock, chairman of the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund expert panel said: "Spanning over 1000 years of architectural history and housing many treasures, English cathedrals are a hugely important part of England's heritage.

"I am delighted we are able to award grants to 22 cathedrals in the first round from the government's World War One Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund."

This was the first round of funding allocations and will be followed by two more. The next round will close in September 2014 with the final round closing in January 2015.