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The results were blue, red, and green hair, a purple Mohawk and pink zig-zags.
The bold hairstyles were the product of an arrangement made between the church leaders and some of the younger members of the congregation: if St. Paul's reached its fundraising goals, the young folk would decide what colors the church leaders would have to dye their hair.
The church came very close.
St. Paul's received a gift of $40,000 from three parishioners with the condition that matching funds be donated. Reverend Janet Waggoner said the matching part came easily but that $19,000 was still needed to reach the $59,000 mark, the amount required to balance the church budget.
In the end, the church raised about $51,339 from the congregation through their "Stepping Into the Light" campaign.
Accordingly, four church leaders had their hair cut and styled Saturday at Hair After, a salon in Shelton.
"It was quite intense," said Senior Warden Dave Cribbins of his Mohawk.
Director of Youth Ministries Leslie Beard, who is also a stylist at Hair After, said that all those whose hair was dyed left one spot on their heads uncolored to represent the work that still needs to be done.
St. Paul's Church, located at 25 Church Street, is a fixture in Huntington and has members whose families have attended since the church's inception, Beard said.
It began as a mission church in 1722 and was rebuilt after it burned in 1811. Though the outside of the church has been repainted and the cupola has been replaced since then, relatively few alternations have been made to the interior.
As of last year, the roof was leaking, causing damage to the plaster ceiling, and the inside was in desperate need of plastering and painting.
"It was looking pretty rough," Waggoner said.
Given tough economic times, she said it was a struggle to raise the necessary funds.
"We prayed together and we worked really hard together," she said.
St. Paul is now empty and in the process of being renovated. Church services are currently being held in the nearby chapel.
Beard said she expects the renovations to be complete by August, when a wedding is scheduled to be held in the church.
Waggoner said she was impressed by the outpouring of support and donations. Parishioners gave what they could, donating $5 or $10 a week in some cases.
Some members of the congregation even pledged to give part of their economic stimulus checks to the church, she said.
"People really want to come together to know more about God, to go deeper in their faith, and to do work for the community," Waggoner said.
"Most people when they see a budget deficit go 'oh wow, are we in trouble,'" Cribbins said.
But Waggoner really "led the charge" and saw the campaign as an "opportunity to get a lot people involved."
The campaign gave the community a chance to unite around this common cause, Beard said.
Saturday's event also drew attention to the church's efforts and kept the congregation focused on the continuing need, she said.
Involving young church members was another important goal.
"We wanted them to feel they're part of the group," she said.
There are 65 kids age 6 to 12 involved in the church as well as college students who help out with the youth ministry, Beard said.
There also is a large junior and high school contingent, she said.
Fundraising events including a talent show and an annual golf tournament help involve the youth as well.
For now, the kids are enjoying the colorful coifs of their church leaders.
"There was an incredible amount of spirit going in this challenge," Cribbins said, adding that a bunch of people attended the hair-styling event.
"It wasn't about the fundraising, it was about the activity and the spirit, and the togetherness everybody felt doing this."
There will be a community celebration and rededication the weekend of Sept. 20 to celebrate the church's renovation.
