Everyone remembers the church as being black and white. (CBC)

The restoration of a historic building on P.E.I. will not include returning it to its original colours, at least not for now.

St. Mary's Church, which was decommissioned last year but still remains the home of the Indian River Festival, is in the midst of a major restoration project. That work has revealed that the William Critchlow Harris building, put up in 1902, has not always been the black and white structure that everyone in the community remembers.

Scraping has revealed the blues and greens that were originally on the church, part of a colour palette that is not unusual for Harris churches. Historical research has also uncovered black and white photographs that show the darker colours.

But there is little community support for returning the building to its original state.

Scraping has revealed some of the original colours. (CBC)

Leonard MacLellan, president of the Friends of St. Mary's Church, told CBC News Tuesday while the bolder scheme may be original, residents who have contributed over $100,000 to the renovation budget only remember the black and white.

"The original colours were probably on the building from 1902, when it was built, until 1914 or 15," said MacLellan.

"Any of the residents that are here now do not remember any of the original colours, so black and white is more appropriate."

MacLellan estimates 80 to 85 per cent of local residents want the church painted black and white.

Organizers say they'll be staying with black and white for now, with hopes of adding more colour in the future.

"I hope one day to return the church to its original colours," said John Drinkwater, a board member for the restoration project.

"First of all it's a money issue, and secondly I'd like to do more research and hopefully get a firm base of approval before this is done."

Other Harris churches in the province, in Kensington and Milton, have been returned to their original colours.