Forbes Presbyterian Church has a deep connection with the Rev. Alexander Forbes (1860-1945), one of the early pioneers whose immense contributions to Grande Prairie are still appreciated and celebrated in different ways. Reverend Forbes established McQueen Presbyterian Church, Grande Prairie’s first Protestant Church, in 1910. They built the first building in 1911. Sadly, in 1925, when most of the congregation voted to join the Union of the Churches (now the United Church of Canada). Rev. Forbes strongly disagreed with that decision and resigned in 1926; he moved away in the same year while leaving behind a remnant. Following his resignation, some worshippers of McQueen Presbyterian Church, who also opposed the decision to join the Union of Churches in Canada, chose to join the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The Rev. Wright came as the full-time minister in 1929, and in 1932, they built the second building and named it in honour of the Rev. Alexander Forbes.
The congregation struggled with its survival because a few people attended worship in the mid-1970s. Hence, they discussed whether they could continue ministering under that challenging circumstances. The congregation decided to face these challenges as stepping stones, work to make things better and continue their ministry. Therefore, the people took a step of faith, sold their property in the downtown area, and moved to the then outskirts of Grande Prairie in 1979. Then, they built and completed the present structure under the leadership of the Rev. D’Arcy Lade. Since then, there have been some updates and additions to the building.
Today, Forbes is a multicultural congregation with people from varied backgrounds. Our members and adherents come from various denominational backgrounds, such as the Church of Scotland, the Christian Reformed Church, the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon and Ghana, and the Evangelical Church in Congo, India, Nigeria, and elsewhere. Also, at Forbes, you will find a friendly, welcoming and active faith community where everyone is welcome.
Forbes actively participates in the life of our wider community through local organizations dear to our hearts, such as the Pregnancy Center, Rising Above, Salvation Army, Wapiti House, and the Center for New Arrival. We also support international groups such as Samaritan Purse and the Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D).
So, at Forbes, you will meet a community seeking to be Christ-centered, obedient to God’s Word, and committed to carrying out God’s mission in the world.
Our worship service is more traditional than contemporary, and we prioritize strong Gospel preaching of the Word of God. We celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper on the third Sunday of every month.
Also, throughout the years, we focus our worship on God’s mission in the world through the Life of Christ: Advent, Birth, Epiphany, Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In other words, our journey begins with preparing for Christ’s coming, the celebration of his birth, the revelation of the child Jesus as the divine and the Saviour of the world, his suffering and death and resurrection and then finally, the coming of God’s Spirit to continue, prosper, and sustain what Christ has started.
You are welcome to Forbes!