Unfortunately, with the reduction in parishioners and
attendance, the First Presbyterian
Church of Decatur opted to recommend the dissolution of the congregation to
the Committee on Ministry of the Whitewater Valley Presbytery (minutes of the
report of the administrative commission attached). With over 175 years of
active service in Decatur, it was with heavy hearts this dissolution was
approved.
The ‘History of Adams County’ reports that on Saturday,
September 19, 1840, a meeting was called by the Presbytery of Miami, Ohio to
organize a Presbyterian Church in Adams County as thirteen persons has
petitioned for authority to establish a church. In 1836, when Decatur was
platted, Samuel Rugg offered to give a lot to each of the first four churches. The original location platted for the First
Presbyterian Church was the SE corner of Monroe and Fifth.
In 1850, the lots of 327 and 330 on Mercer Avenue at Five
Points was purchased for $35. This began the location of the church and it is
the address of the church today. (This transitioned to new ownership 2019).
Building of the church at Five Points began 1854 and
after two significantly damaging fires, the church was
replaced and persevered. When the attendance and parishioners began the
decline is when the Whitewater Valley Presbytery began discussion for the final
stages of the First Presbyterian Church of Decatur.
This fund was established as an on-going tribute
to the many loyal parishioners that sacrificed, donated, bequeath their
savings, and built the beautiful church and to uphold the memories of one of
the first four churches in Decatur.