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Our Church History: More Than 150 Years of Making Disciples in McKinney, Texas

The history of our church is a history of God using people to make disciples of Jesus.

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Our History at a Glance

First McKinney Baptist Church began in 1872, planted by believers from Rowlett Creek Baptist Church to serve the growing community of McKinney, Texas. Our church history spans more than 150 years, including a first building in 1877 under “Father” R.C. Buckner, a revival that doubled the church, and a legacy of missions and church planting that continues today.

Heritage photo honoring Father R.C. Buckner and the first building of 1877
Father” R.C. Buckner and First McKinney’s first church building, built in 1877.

Where the Story Began

The story of First McKinney begins much like our story continues today: with people committed to making disciples and helping others do the same. David Myers, one of the area’s original settlers, planted Rowlett Creek Baptist Church in 1844 and was deeply committed to sharing Jesus and teaching others to follow Him. That commitment was evident throughout his life, even in his final days, when he was caught in a winter storm while returning home after teaching a small group of believers.

In 1872, followers of Jesus from Rowlett Creek believed McKinney needed a church of its own, and they planted what would become First McKinney Baptist Church. The first building was built in 1877 under the leadership of “Father” R.C. Buckner, a pastor with a deep compassion for orphans and vulnerable children. First McKinney soon commissioned Buckner to begin Buckner Children’s Home, which grew into what is known today as Buckner International.

That commitment to meeting needs continues to shape First McKinney today. Buckner’s heart for vulnerable children is reflected in the many families in our church who have fostered and adopted, carrying forward a legacy of putting faith into action.

A Heart Shaped by Revival and Missions

Churches planted through the ministry of First McKinney Baptist Church Churches planted through the ministry of First McKinney Baptist Church

In 1880, Major W.E. Penn, a lawyer from East Texas who became an evangelist, led a revival in the McKinney area. More than 200 people were saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and more than 100 of those new believers joined First McKinney, more than doubling the size of the church. That season of growth helped deepen a heart for missions and reaching others with the gospel.

The church’s history books show how strongly that commitment shaped its priorities. From 1896 to 1917, $348,850 was given to the church, with “a vast majority of this sum going to missions, education, and benevolence.” First McKinney supported its first long-term missionary, Miss Euva Majors, who served in China for many years and made disciples of Jesus there. By 1959, the church was giving 43% of its total undesignated income to missions.

But First McKinney’s missional heart has never been only about giving resources. It is also about giving our time and going where God sends us. When the current campus was expanded, the church chose to build the Family Life Center before the Worship Center so it could better serve the city.

First McKinney helped launch Habitat for Humanity in McKinney and has helped plant churches locally, across the United States and around the world. These include Crosspoint, Templo de Alabanza, Crossroads Cowboy Church and, most recently, Highlands Baptist Church in Melissa, planted in 2023.

Our desire has never been simply to gather people, but to send people. That same heart continues today as we Pray. Give. Go., investing in missions, church planting and relationships in McKinney and around the world.

A Church History Timeline

The church history timeline at a glance:

  1. 1844

    David Myers plants Rowlett Creek Baptist Church

    The seed congregation of our story

  2. 1872

    First McKinney is founded by believers from Rowlett Creek

    A church planted for a growing McKinney

  3. 1877

    First building rises under “Father” R.C. Buckner

    Buckner Children’s Home soon follows

  4. 1880

    The W.E. Penn revival more than doubles the church

    200+ saved; 100+ join First McKinney

  5. 1896–1917

    $348,850 given, most to missions, education, and benevolence

    Recorded in the church history books

  6. 1959

    43% of undesignated income goes to missions

    Missions continues to shape our giving

  7. 1996

    First McKinney helps plant Crosspoint Church

    Continuing the church-planting story

  8. 2011

    First McKinney helps launch Mission Regan and 25Project

    Partnering together to meet the needs of McKinney and beyond

  9. 2023

    First McKinney helps plant Highlands Baptist Church in Melissa

    Helping plant a church for a growing community

  10. September 2025

    The new Students Building opens

    Making room for the Next Generation

First McKinney Baptist Church serving the McKinney community through the decades

Serving the City Through the Decades

For more than 150 years, a missional heart has shaped how First McKinney serves this city. When the current campus expanded, the church chose to build the Family Life Center before the Worship Center, creating space to serve the community. We helped launch Habitat for Humanity in McKinney and have continued investing in church planting locally and beyond.

In 2008, First McKinney became a lead sponsor of 3e McKinney, joining other churches across the city to help meet needs in our community. In 2011, First McKinney also helped launch Mission Regan and 25 Project, ministries that work alongside churches and organizations to care for people in need locally and beyond.

Today, that commitment continues through relationships like our ongoing partnership with Finch Elementary, where we have served more than 400 families over the years. Our church has supported the school by adopting classes, hosting field days, providing Christmas gifts for parents to give their kids and tutoring students one-on-one.

During extreme winter weather, First McKinney also partners with Emmanuel Labor to open our campus as a warming station for people experiencing homelessness.

The new Students Building opened in September 2025 at First McKinney Baptist Church

The Story We Are Still Writing

More than 150 years after First McKinney Baptist Church was planted, God is still writing the story. In September 2025, the new Students Building opened, creating dedicated space to invest in students and the next generation. Through Pray. Give. Go., we continue to support missions, send people, plant churches, serve our neighbors and build relationships locally and around the world.

The methods and opportunities may change, but our mission remains the same: to make disciples who live and love like Jesus and help others do the same. We will continue to meet needs, grow relationships, share Jesus and teach obedience as we invest in our neighbors, the nations and the next generation.

We give God all the glory for what He has done through generations of people at First McKinney, and we look forward to seeing what He will do next.

Heritage Videos

Church Planting History
Local Missions History
Global Missions History

Frequently Asked Questions

First McKinney Church

First McKinney Baptist Church was founded in 1872, when followers of Jesus from Rowlett Creek Baptist Church, founded in 1844, planted a new church in the growing community of McKinney, Texas. The church’s first building was built in 1877 under the leadership of “Father” R.C. Buckner.

The history of First McKinney Baptist Church is a story of God using people to make disciples. Planted in 1872 by believers from Rowlett Creek Baptist Church, First McKinney grew under leaders such as “Father” R.C. Buckner, more than doubled during the 1880 W.E. Penn revival, sent missionaries such as Miss Euva Majors to China, and continued helping plant churches locally and around the world. More than 150 years later, that commitment to making and sending disciples continues today.

“Father” R.C. Buckner was an early leader at First McKinney Baptist Church who helped lead the church during the construction of its first building in 1877. With a deep compassion for orphans and vulnerable children, Buckner was commissioned by First McKinney to begin what became Buckner Children’s Home, known today as Buckner International. His legacy of caring for vulnerable children continues to be reflected in the many First McKinney families who have fostered and adopted.

In 1880, Major W.E. Penn led a revival in the McKinney area where more than 200 people were saved by grace through faith in Jesus. More than 100 of those new believers joined First McKinney, more than doubling the size of the church. That season of growth helped deepen the church’s heart for missions and reaching others with the Gospel.

First McKinney Baptist Church has been part of McKinney, Texas, for more than 150 years, since 1872. Today, the church worships in its landmark building at the gateway to downtown McKinney, continuing to serve the community it has called home for generations.

Missions have been part of the story of First McKinney Baptist Church for generations. From 1896 to 1917, church records show that the vast majority of the $348,850 given to the church went to missions, education and benevolence. By 1959, 43% of the church’s undesignated income was going to missions. First McKinney also sent and supported missionaries, including Miss Euva Majors in China, and has helped plant churches locally and around the world. Today, that commitment continues as we Pray. Give. Go. to help make disciples in McKinney and beyond.

Yes. First McKinney Baptist Church has helped plant churches locally, across the United States, and around the world. Area church plants include Crosspoint Church, planted in 1996, Templo de Alabanza, Crossroads Cowboy Church, and Highlands Baptist Church in Melissa, planted in 2023. Church planting continues a story that began when First McKinney itself was planted in 1872. Our desire is not just to gather people, but to send people.

First McKinney Baptist Church has a long history of serving the McKinney community in practical ways. The church built the Family Life Center before the Worship Center to create space to serve the city and helped launch Habitat for Humanity in McKinney. In 2008, First McKinney became a lead sponsor of 3e McKinney, joining other local churches to help meet needs. Today, that commitment continues through our partnership with Finch Elementary and our work with Emmanuel Labor to open our campus as a warming station for people experiencing homelessness during extreme winter weather.

This page shares the story of First McKinney Baptist Church from its beginnings in 1872 to the church we are today. You can also explore heritage videos about our church-planting, local-missions, and global-missions history, or join us for Discover First to learn more about our history, mission, and how we make disciples. We’d love to share the story with you.
Our History

Explore the Heritage

For more than 150 years, God has used generations of people at First McKinney to make disciples, serve our neighbors, plant churches, and share Jesus in McKinney and around the world. We are grateful for those who came before us, and we give God the glory for all He has done.

Today, we have the privilege of carrying the baton forward. Watch the heritage videos on this page to learn more, Discover Our Missions Legacy to see how First McKinney continues to Pray. Give. Go., or join us for Discover First to learn more about our history, mission, and discipleship. If you’ve never been to First McKinney, Plan Your Visit. We’d be glad to welcome you and let you experience this church family for yourself.

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