The Rugel tradition of creating high-quality church furnishing got its start in 1929, when Willie Benton Rugel built the first of what were then called benches for Talbott Baptist Church, where he attended church.

“Willie was a carpenter by trade. He made a lot of coffins,” says Pat Rugel, the family matriarch, recalling the company’s storied history. “He stayed up a lot of nights making coffins.”
Willie Rugel was a craftsman. He focused on the details, making sure every piece he created was perfect.

That tradition of craftsmanship was handed down from father to son in 1947, when Earl Rugel was asked to make benches for Flat Gap Church in New Market. The church brought Earl the lumber, which he turned into beautiful, sturdy pews.

“That’s how Rugel Church Furnishings began,” Pat says.

In 1955, the company moved to Jefferson City, on property situation along Highway 321. It was a two-lane road back then, but churches sought out the fine craftsmanship of the Rugel family.

That same year Keith Rugel, Pat’s late husband, began working for the company.

“Earl offered him the choice to go to college or come to work for the family business. He chose the business and worked alongside his father and mother,” Pat says.

Keith’s legacy lives on in the church furnishings Rugel creates every day. Each detail — from the padding to the pattern of the pew end — is imbued with Keith’s spirit. His handiwork is the stuff of legend.

“At on time, Keith Rugel touched every pew end 16 times,” Pat says. Sixteen times to get the routing done correctly, to shape wood into an object of precision and beauty. “That was before we got the CNC router.”

A modern router may have changed how pew ends are made, but it did not change the tradition of fine craftsmanship that dates back nearly 90 years.