Key points Activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by integrin signalling facilitates smooth muscle contraction by transmitting the force generated by myofilament activation to the extracellular matrix and throughout the smooth muscle tissue. Here we report that electrical field stimulation (EFS) of cholinergic motor neurons activates FAK in gastric fundus smooth muscles, and that FAK activation by EFS is atropine‐sensitive but nicardipine‐insensitive. PDBu and calyculin A contracted gastric fundus muscles Ca²⁺‐independently and also activated FAK. Inhibition of FAK activation inhibits the contractile responses evoked by EFS, and inhibits CPI‐17 phosphorylation at T38. This study indicates that mechanical force or tension is sufficient to activate FAK, and that FAK appears to be involved in the activation of the protein kinase C–CPI‐17 Ca²⁺ sensitization pathway in gastric fundus smooth muscles. These results reveal a novel role for FAK in gastric fundus smooth muscle contraction by facilitating CPI‐17 phosphorylation. AbstractSmooth muscle contraction involves regulating myosin light chain phosphorylation and dephosphorylation by myosin light chain kinase and myosin light chain phosphatase. C‐kinase potentiated protein phosphatase‐1 inhibitor of 17 kDa (CPI‐17) and myosin phosphatase targeting subunit of myosin light‐chain phosphatase (MYPT1) are crucial for regulating gastrointestinal smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting myosin light chain phosphatase. Integrin signalling involves the dynamic recruitment of several proteins, including focal adhesion kinase (FAK), to focal adhesions. FAK tyrosine kinase activation is involved in cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix via integrin signalling. FAK participates in linking the force generated by myofilament activation to the extracellular matrix and throughout the smooth muscle tissue. Here, we show that cholinergic stimulation activates FAK in gastric fundus smooth muscles. Electrical field stimulation in the presence of N^ω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester and MRS2500 contracted gastric fundus smooth muscle strips and increased FAK Y397 phosphorylation (pY397). Atropine blocked the contractions and prevented the increase in pY397. The FAK inhibitor PF‐431396 inhibited the contractions and the increase in pY397. PF‐431396 also inhibited the electrical field stimulation‐induced increase in CPI‐17 T38 phosphorylation, and reduced MYPT1 T696 and T853, and myosin light chain S19 phosphorylation. Ca²⁺ influx was unaffected by PF‐431396. Nicardipine inhibited the contractions but had no effect on the increase in pY397. Phorbol 12,13‐dibutyrate or calyculin A contracted gastric fundus smooth muscle strips Ca²⁺ independently and increased pY397. Our findings suggest that FAK is activated by mechanical forces during contraction and reveal a novel role of FAK in the regulation of CPI‐17 phosphorylation.