History of the
Forney Christian Church
Also known as the Church of Disciples of Christ

Information transcribed from the archives of the Forney Heritage Society.

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Forney Christian Church
Erected 1892

It was about 1881 that Millage Stevenson and a few others of what was known as the
Church of Christ, attempted to build a house of worship on the North side of Forney
on the corner of Burgett and Aimee Streets, but having no church organization behind
them and being so few in number, they soon abandoned the project, selling the unfinished
frame building and lot to the Baptist of Forney. The Baptists moved in in 1881. This
building was also used for a school in 1881-1882. The Baptist worshipped in this building
until it burned in 1918.

John W. Walker, a most enthusiastic member of the Christian Church or the Church of
Disciples of Christ as it was referred to at that time, located in Forney from Virginia about
1876. Mr. Walker was a strong advocate of "Christian Union." During his early years here,
he succeeded in bringing to Forney many of the leading ministers of his church in Texas
and other states for revival meetings. These were always union services. No church was
organized, and his one hope was to unite all religious bodies into one group. However, in
this he failed, after at least 20 ears of consecrated work and leadership.

Some of the early ministers who preached in Forney were: Elders Polly, Stirman, Caskey,
Setliff, B.B. Sanders, J.T. Toof, Pinkerton, F.D. Power of Washington, D.C., Chalmers
McPherson and many other outstanding highly educated men. Some were baptized during
these meetings and others publicly expressed a desire to be associated with the Disciples
of Christ, but no real organization of the group took place until 1893.

In early 1892, A.J. Walker, Dr. N.B. Shands, John Potts and others dedicated themselves
to erect another house of worship and began the building process in July 1892 at the
Houston and Border Streets location. The beautiful wooden church building included a
steeple and attractive stained glass windows. Dedicated in 1893, this building was to serve
the congregation for 25 years, and was later demolished.

In 1894, Elder J.B. Boen held another successful evangelistic campaign. Later B.B. Sanders
returned and was again followed by J.B. Boen. In a very short time the Disciples numbered
three hundred or more members. Most all of them moving away during the years that have
gone by.

Elder G.D. Smith of the Central Christian Church in Dallas was the first pastor, serving four
years or more, 1893-1897. Since that time the following ministers have served as pastors.
The following list is an approximated dates of service.

1. G.D. Smith --- 1893-1897
2. W.H. McClendon (one year resident pastor) --- 1898
3. W.K. Homan (of Dallas, two years) --- 1898-1900 (William)
4. V.R. Stapp (resident pastor) --- 1900-1902 (Virgil)
5. G.A. Faris (of Dallas) --- 1902-1906
6. F.M. Tremble --- only a few months
7. H.G. Fleming (resident pastor) --- June 1906-1908
8. J.T. Purvis (resident pastor) --- 1909-1912
9. Clinton Lockhart (of Texas Christian University)
10. Cephus Shelburne (of Dallas) --- 1914
11. E.R. Cockrell (of Texas Christian University) --- 1915-1917
12. E.L. Thompson (resident pastor) --- Feb. 1917-Apr. 1918
13. H.M. Wilson (resident pastor ) --- Apr. 7, 1918 - Oct. 1918
14. L.B. Haskins (of Dallas) --- 1918-1920 (Lewis)
15. I.E. Reid (resident pastor) --- Mar. 6, 1921 - Apr. 1923
16. C.E. Chambers (resident pastor) --- May 2, 1923 - Jan. 1929
17. Ben. M. Edwards (of Dallas) --- May 7, 1933 - Spring 1935
18. Patrick Henry, Jr. (of Ft. Worth) --- Summer 1935
19. W.C. Morro - (of Texas Christian University) --- Sep. 1935

At one time the church had a very active Sunday School. The Woman's Missionary
Society of the Christian Church was organized in November of 1896 by Dr. Olivia
Baldwin, a retired missionary from India. Until the church was closed, the society never
missed a monthly meeting since January 1897.

It was in 1916 under the ministry and encouragement of Dr. E.R. Cockrell of Texas
Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas that the brick building was started in 1916.
As other duties called Dr. Cockrell away, the corner-stone laying was conducted by
Dr. Clinton Lockhart, a former pastor from T.C.U. The congregation moved into the
new edifice on Bois d'Arc and Houston Streets about May 1917 with E.L. Thompson
as pastor. E.L. Thompson was called February 1917.

This church bears the historical distinction of being the first to build a brick house of
worship in Forney. This beautiful structure was of red brick and concrete being
35'x20'x35' high containing approximately 24,500 cubic feet. It was of Corinthian
architecture. It had no bells. Special features included a pipe organ, cost $2,450.00.
The cost of the furnace was $620.00. The church had stained glass windows and the
corner stone had the inscription "Many Lay Than That Which Is Laid, Which Is Jesus
Christ."

In the corner stone the following items were placed: Copy of the Forney Messenger,
Vol. XXIII, Num. 11, dated October 27, 1916; original contract on the pipe organ
and furnace. (Note: Mrs. O.W. Reagin gave these items to Dr. Christine Z. Walker
as she was a member of this church. The corner stone was placed on the Avery F.
Duke cemetery lot in Hillcrest Cemetery in 1988 by Mrs. Reagin since they were
charter members of the church.) Also included in the corner stone was membership
of the church and history.

The church cost $17,500.00. The entire amount was raised, and hence there was no
debt problem for a future pastor to face.

It was in 1917 under the leadership of E.L. Thompson that the Forney Christian
Church and missionary society began the support of E.T. Cornelius in Mexico as its
foreign pastor. Eight years later, 1925, Mr. Cornelius returned to the states to do
special work among the Mexicans of Texas, his location being at San Antonio with
the Mexican Christian Institute. The church and missionary at Forney then began the
support of J.F. Heugal in July of 1925 and continued with him as foreign pastor until
June 30, 1931. The church has been intensely missionary since its organization in 1893,
supporting both home and foreign missions. The Forney Christian Church has been
nationally known and recognized for many years for its missionary activities and
consecrated leadership.

The last resident pastor was the Reverend C.E. Chambers who served from May
1928 to January 1929. The Reverend Ben M. Edwards who followed, commuted
from Dallas to serve this church from May 1933 to the Spring of 1935. Finally two
student pastors came to preach on Sundays in the Summer and Fall months of 1935.
Church records have no additional ministers after that date. The congregation gradually
dwindled. Most of the members affiliated themselves with other local churches. The
number of resident members was too few in number to bear the expense of the church,
and the building was closed. Occasionally it was cleaned and opened for funeral services.

The proud, beautiful red-brick structure with the dramatic front step entry stood vacant
and unused until the First Baptist Church made the decision to purchase the lot and
building to use it until they could dismantle their old church and rebuild in the same spot.
This was in the early 1970's. When the new Baptist church was completed and occupied
in May of 1973, the red brick building which had once housed the proud Disciples of
Christ of the First Christian Church was dismantled in order that the new owners could
use the lot for a much-needed parking area. The stain glass windows that were in the
Christian Church were lovingly placed in the new First Baptist Church sanctuary.
Today, June 1992, the lot remains vacant.

January 1989, Mrs. O.W. Reagin stated that the pipe organ was sold to a Mr. Ford
of Dallas who worked on it all the time. This being in May of 1973. The organ was
ordered from Hillgreen Lane & Co. Pipe Organ Builders, Alliance, Ohio on January 27,
1917 at a cost of $2,450.00.

The furnace was a 1 #200 Horizontal Moncrief Furnace. The contract date was
November 24, 1916. The note on this was paid off as of Sept. 14, 1917.

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Articles about the Forney Christian Church:

Forney Tribune, July 1889
"Rev. Setliff, of Wills Point, who has been in Forney several days assisting the
Christian minister, Rev. Pinkerton, in the protracted meeting returned home Tuesday."

Forney Tribune, June 22, 1892
"Work on the Christian Church will begin soon."

Forney Tribune, August 3, 1892
"The Christian Church that is to be erected on the lot adjouning the property of
James T. Rhea has been begun. The dimensions are 34 x 54 with a spiral 60 feet
high. The work is being executed under the supervision of A.J. Walker, which
insures its proper construction. (Note: The old Christian Church referred to above
was located on the corner of Houston and Border Streets facing south.)

Forney Tribune, September 1892
"The Christian Church building is being erected under the leadership of A.J.
Walker, contractor and builder."
"J.W. Whipp, one of the carpenters of Forney, who donated many days work
on the new Christian Church building, also took an active part in securing funds
and pledges for the erection of the building. He spent some three months, in the
early spring and summer securing funds. He was aided by Miss Belle Walker,
daughter of A.J. Walker, who later married C. Wren."

Forney Tribune, October 26, 1892
"The windows for the new Christian Church have arrived and they are
beauties too."

Forney Tribune, June 7, 1893
"The Christian Church was re-organized last week and all differences settled.
We understand that some of the members were opposed to having an organ
and they have decided to hold services at the North Forney schoolhouse."

Forney Tribune, June 7, 1893 (sic)
"The Union School moved to the Christian Church and carried their organ
with them."

Forney Tribune, June 6, 1894
"J.B. Boen who is holding a series of meetings at the Christian Church preached
to the colored population Sunday afternoon. His sermon was plain facts in
regard to evils of their race and was received by them in the manner in which
he intended it."

Forney Tribune, June 6, 1894 (sic)
"The Lone Star Quartette of the Central Christian Church of Dallas:
Messrs. Marshal, Marshal, Homan and Darnell, came down Sunday and
sang at the Forney Christian Church. Their music was a treat and enjoyed by
everyone."

Forney Tribune, June 6, 1894 (sic)
"Great interest has been manifested in the protracted meeting at the Christian
Church, there being about thirty accessions to the church by baptism."

Forney Tribune, May 22, 1896
"Elder G.D. Smith, pastor of the Christian Church, administered the rite of
baptism to several candidates Sunday evening."

Forney Tribune, 1898
"Rev. McClendon, pastor of the Christian Church, surprised us all last
week by getting married. Rev. McClendon is one of Forney's best preachers
and the Forney Tribune extends congratulations."

Forney Messenger, March 5, 1909
"Services at the Christian Church, next Sunday morning, and night by the
pastor Elder J.T. Purvis. The evening theme 'In Memory of the Alamo.'"

Forney Messenger, September 28, 1913
"Gravel is being unloaded to build a walk from Harry Soloman's corner on
Trinity Avenue down Border Street past the residences of Mr. Soloman,
E.M. Riggs, Joe J. Jones and Mrs. Joseph Conner to connect with the walk
from Bois d'arc Street to Houston in front of the Christian Church."

Forney Messenger, Friday, January 9, 1914
"C. Shelburne will fill his regular appointment at the Christian Church
Sunday. His message will be appropriate to the New Year."

Forney Messenger, Friday, January 14, 1916
"The men of the Christian Church will hold an official board meeting at 7:30
Saturday evening at the home of W.A. Brooks, on Center Street. Dr. E.R.
Cockrell, the pastor from Fort Worth will be present."

Forney Messenger, Vol. XXIII, Num. II, October 27, 1916
"CORNERSTONE OF CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO BE LAID"
"Next Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, the cornerstone of the new church
will be laid. The program appears elsewhere in this issue. A member of that
congregation that is familiar with the early as well as later history of the
congregation has written an article giving some interesting data about its
progress from a struggling church to the one it is today.
"The laying of this cornerstone we hope will mark the beginning of an era
of church building in Forney. There is not a congregation in town that is
not able to own a better church home than they do."
"The Christian people have started the good work. It is some other
congregations time to follow suit."