NEW parish rooms for Blandford are nearing completion.

A “topping out” ceremony for the new community centre in the Tabernacle area takes place today.

A historic ventilator from the old parish rooms, demolished in March, will be installed during the ceremony as a symbolic connection with the previous parish centre.

The Robert Boyle “air pump” ventilator is thought to have been installed when the old parish rooms were built in the 1880s and has been carefully restored by Blandford builders RB Snook.

Rev Tim Storey, the rector of Blandford Forum, said returning the ventilator to its “rightful position” would continue the church’s 130-year connection with the Tabernacle site. Work on the new building is due to finish by the end of the year. The main structure has been completed. The external fascia remains under construction.