BISMARK — Like many rural churches, Bismarck United has watched its membership dwindle over the past few years.

The small but dedicated membership has tried to keep the doors of the 132-year-old church from closing, but they can no longer afford to do so. On Sept. 27 the final service will be delivered from the church alter. The service not only marks the end of the congregation, but its beginnings as well. Each year on the final Sunday of September, the congregation gathers to recognize its beginnings with an anniversary celebration. This year’s will be bittersweet for all who have attended mass in the little white church.

“The hardest part is that it will be gone,” said Joy Ecker, who has been attending the church since she married 63 years ago.

The church is situated on the road allowance which means it cannot be turned into a home, as was the case with the old Abingdon church. Instead the building, which is not protected by a heritage designation, will have to be moved or torn down, explained Ecker.

The congregation has discussed closing the church due to membership for several year. A vote taken in January sealed the fate of the church, which dates back to the early 19th century.

“We used to be a much bigger congregation,” said Esker, who remembers the mother daughter banquets held the Tuesday after Mother’s Day each year. “Now we’re down to hardly anybody.”

The Sundy Settlement, now Bismarck, was founded n 1830 by Christian Sundy, who came to Canada from Germany. Before there was even a church, there was church service, delivered in homes, barns and groves on nice weather days. Records show the first sermon preached in Bismarck was in 1838 and delivered by H. Sauer of Black Creek. The Sunday School was started in 1841.

The first church was built in 1851 and the present day one in 1883. For more than a century, the church shared ministers with Bethel Church, which closed in 1984 at which time the two congregations became one. The church was originally Evangelical. The denominational named changed to Evangelical United Brethren in 1949 before becoming just the United Church in 1968.

The congregations has gifted its two cemeteries to the Township of West Lincoln. The property on Silver Street is listed for sale.

The final service takes place Sunday, Sept. 27.