BIG celebrations are due to take place in Milton Abbot this weekend as the parish church reopens its doors after two and a half years.

The Parish Church of St Constantine will be a hive of activity following a major restoration programme on the Grade One listed building which will culminate with a harvest festival and supper and a visit by the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev John Garton on Sunday evening.

An 80% grant of almost £60,000 from English Heritage allowed the work, including repairs to the medieval Devon barrelled ceiling, plasterwork and bosses, to go ahead, and the community raised the remaining 20% needed to complete the scheme.

Rector Greg Stanton, of the United Beneface of Churches, whose seven parishes include Milton Abbot, said it would be wonderful to use the church again after seeing it as a building site for the past two years.

He said: ?The church has been unsafe for the past six or seven years really, and a restoration project has been on the cards for sometime.

?The English Heritage grant was fantastic to get everything started, but what was equally fantastic was the support of the community.

?Everybody got involved, even those who do not go to church ? the project really pulled everyone together.?

Church services switched to the village hall, which also hosted fundraising coffee mornings over a three-year period raising £13,000 towards the scheme, and local weddings and funerals were held in Lamerton and Dunterton churches.

Mr Stanton, who has been the rector for 13 years, said the Parish Church of St Constantine was particularly special to him as it was the closest church to where he lived and it was a very historic building.

?This weekend is indeed going to be an historic occasion and we would like to see as many people from the community as possible there,? he added. ?The fundraising efforts and support for the church have been overwhelming and I would like to thank everyone for what they have done.?

Celebrations begin when the church opens its doors at 10am on Saturday with a mini flower festival and there will be a barbecue at the vicarage at 5pm in aid of church funds and local children?s charity CHICKS. Tickets are £5 and include a glass of wine and coffee.

The first service will be holy communion on Sunday at 10.45am when congregations from all the churches in the benefice will join together.

At 6pm the Bishop of Plymouth will perform a rededication ceremony, followed by a harvest festival celebration and harvest supper.