First Presbyterian Church of Forney
Forney, Kaufman County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This church was created by the merger of two congregations. Before the town of Brooklyn was renamed Forney, the Brooklyn Church of the Presbytery of Bacon of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1872. A second congregation, the Forney Presbyterian Church U.S. (Southern), began in 1883, and built a sanctuary on this site. Following the merger in 1919, the name was changed to First Presbyterian Church of Forney. A new red brick structure was dedicated in October, 1925, and the church continues to be a vital part of the Forney community. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
First Presbyterian Church of Forney grew from two roots: a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation organized in 1872, back when the town was still called Brooklyn, and a Southern Presbyterian church begun in 1883 that built a sanctuary on this site. The two merged in 1919 under the present name, and a new red-brick church was dedicated here in 1925. It has remained a fixture of Forney community life ever since.
Why it matters
The congregation's merger mirrors the broader reconciliation of divided American Presbyterian branches, playing out in one small Texas town's changing name and steeples.
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Themes & tags
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