From THE SUPERIOR EXPRESS Thursday, June 18, 1992

AFTER 120 YEAR MINISTRY ANGUS CHURCH HOLDS LAST SERVICE MAY 24

The Angus Church of Christ has closed its doors after nearly 120 years of service to Jesus Christ. The last worship service was may 24. Several former pastors and Ray Stitz, president of Nebraska Christian College, Norfolk, were honored guests.

Gordon Ruttman, a member for the past 50 years, said the passing was ?like losing a close relative.? Gordon and his wife, Clara, were married in the church as were three of their daughters.

The congregation was organized September 18, 1873, by Elder D.K. Dungan at the Oxbow Schoolhouse. The initial membership was 21. T.K. Norwood and J.M. Cook were the first elders and B.F. Parker and R.M. Akin were the deacons. A salary of $200 was paid pastors who served the church from Fairfield and Bethany College.

A church building was erected in 1900 on land donated by John and Ella Chamberlain Sr. The building was dedicated January 21, 1901, by Brother W.G. Mensies and the pastor, brother Yeocum. The organist was Rose Wehrman Basey. Mrs. Basey continued in that capacity until her death in 1950. Earl Basey was the first Sunday school superintendent at the new facility, serving from 1901 until his death in 1957.

The congregation bought a building in Angus in 1917 and the congregation moved into the then thriving community. An addition was built in 1929.

The congregation?s centennial celebration was September 16, 1973. declining membership and the associated decline in financial support were major factors which caused the congregation to decide to close its doors. Membership and regular attendance was about 10, Rattan said, and it was getting difficult to meet the bills.

The Rev. Harold Fox, pastor of the Christian Church, Edgar and the Church of Christ, Angus said the congregation decided ?more could be accomplished for the Lord by attending somewhere else?

While the congregation may no longer be flourishing, its ministry will live on in a variety of ways.

Several of the young people from the congregation have either entered the ministry or are associated with ministry related activities such as pastors wives.

Some of the building furniture is being made available to new and young congregations. Other property was sold in a silent auction. The proceeds of the auction and the future sale of the building will be placed in a memorial fund at Nebraska Christian College.

**The Building was bought in 1992 by Gordon and Shirley Shuck...They in turn sold the building to Wayne & Deana Bischoff, and Gary Pofahl later that year.