STANDISH – The iconic Old Red Church on Oak Hill Road in Standish welcomed worshippers and history buffs last Sunday for an annual Colonial service.

Opened for a worship service once a year, more than 70 people took advantage of the annual event despite oppressive heat and humidity.

“What a great turnout,” said Standish Historical Society member Charles Ruby. “It’s really exciting.”

The Old Red Church was completed in 1804 and was used until 1859. A second floor was added to the Old Red Church in 1848 in order to house the Standish Academy. Through the years, various organizations have used the second floor. It also served as the Standish High School for five years at the end of the 1800s and again from 1902 to 1914.

The building was eventually deeded to the town of Standish, and is managed by a board of trustees. It is also registered as a national historic landmark.

Unlike other churches from the time period, the pews are enclosed in wooden boxes and latched closed, a design more associated with earlier American churches. Congregants would often purchase a box for their family to ensure they would have a seat for the service. The church had no air-conditioning or heat and in the winter members would often bring heated soapstones so they could keep warm during the service.

In honor of those services of yesteryear, several attendees on Sunday dressed in Colonial-era attire.

“It’s just fun to dress up,” said Cathy Christy. “I mean, why not?”

The Rev. Cynthia Biggar, from nearby Standish Congregational Church, gave the sermon from the pulpit using scripture from the King James Version of the Bible as they would have in the 1800s. Standish Historical Society President Glenna Jamison read a passage from the King James Version and hymns were sung a capella by Bill Tracy and Jackie Savage.

“They sang it just as our forbearers would have sung it, just beautifully,” said Biggar.

After the ceremony, lemonade and refreshments were served on the church lawn while children played and danced, the girls in bonnets provided by the Standish Historical Society.

“Women were not allowed to enter the church without their head covered,” said Jamison. “It certainly was a different time.”

Glenna Jamison, Joline Webber, Esther LIbby, Esther Libby, Mary Hicks, Jean Potts and Mary Hicks show off their colonial garb Sunday at the Old Red Church.