TAZEWELL, Va. — The aroma from more than a dozen crock pots filled the Red Barn in Pioneer Park on the grounds of the Historic Crab Orchard Museum Sunday as a congregation of more than 180 people listened to the message delivered by The Reverend Henry E. Johnson, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church.

The church has been holding its annual Thanksgiving service in the Red Barn in Pioneer Park for the past 15 years. Although the barn typically houses the museum’s extensive collection of 19th century farm equipment and other antique transportation exhibits, on Sunday, it was filled with people and food. Johnson as well as more than one-third of his flock came to the service dressed in early 19th Century attire. Johnson played the part of The Reverend Isaac Newton Naff, a Presbyterian circuit rider who preached in Tazewell in the 1800s. Johnson arrived for the service on horseback.

“He rode in here on Buddy,” Rick Sawyers said of the registered Arabian horse that Johnson rode the short distance from Fort Witten to the barn. Johnson added the horseback arrival to the service about five years ago. “I raised Buddy from a colt. I think it makes a big impression on everyone.”

Johnson said that people from about 10 other area congregations attend the special Thanksgiving service. “A lot of people attend this service every year,” Johnson said. “We really appreciate the museum letting us use the Red Barn for this service. Several of our members are volunteers here, and it feels like we’re all right at home.”

“It’s a family kind of place,” Hannah Sawyers, 16, of Tazewell said. “This museum and Pioneer Park have a lot of things for families to do.”

“We dressed up like this for the Skirmish at Jeffersonville, the 4th of July and for other workshops,” Joanna Sawyers, 12, Hannah’s sister said. “I’m a volunteer here, and I enjoy it.”

Abby Johnson, also 12, said she enjoys, “being together and worshiping God.”

“It’s fun to dress up like the pioneers did,” Miriam Sawyers, 9, said. “I attend camp here, learn to quilt and how to do crafts. It’s like history.”

Christopher Prince, 22, from New Orleans, La., was in Tazewell visiting family and decided to attend the service and enjoy the food. “I’ve been here to the museum before, but I’ve never been here when everyone was dressed up in pioneer clothing,” Prince said. “It’s cool.” Prince is a music student at Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

Johnson spoke on the theme, “The Only Savior.” He wove his remarks around a portion of the text of William Bradford’s “History of the Plymouth Plantation.” Bradford’s book is a detailed account of life in New England during the early colonial period. The Back Porch Pickers performed during the dinner that followed the service.

Kathy Chambers said that about 45 people brought food for the community dinner that followed the service. “We have some of the best ... make that, the best food in the area,” Chambers said. “We usually have more than enough to feed everyone who attends.”

Several people attending the service remained in the barn for the dinner, but others dined in some of the out-buildings near the barn. Rick Sawyers loaded Buddy in a horse trailer for the trip back to Thompson Valley at about 2 p.m. People visited with family and friends in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com