In a quaint, dimly lit sanctuary with stainedglass windows and hardwood floors, men dressed in Civil Warera outfits worshipped alongside women wearing bonnets and long antebellum dresses.
It was, after all, Trinity Episcopal Church’s 150th anniversary service Sunday, and churchgoers, ushers, the music director and even the pastor were all playing the role.
The entire service was a throwback to 1859, when construction began at Trinity Episcopal, the state’s oldest Episcopal church still being used for Sunday worship, according to the church’s rector, churchgoers and a historical book on the church.
“One of the great things about being a part of Trinity is that you have this wonderful history, but it’s a living history,” said the Rev. Walter Van Zandt Windsor, the church rector. “It’s sort of like being able to live in the presence of those who have gone before while still preaching the gospel in a modern world.”