It was sometime around 1770 that Isham Pitman came to the area now known as Fairmont.  Shortly after he arrived, he received a large land grant from the king of England, making this farmer, miller, and blacksmith a prominent landholder.  He was licensed to preach in 1792 by the Saddletree Baptist Church in Robeson County, and led in establishing what was known as “Pitman’s Church” (later as Ashpole Baptist Church), serving as Pastor until his death in 1825.  Today this church is known as the First Baptist Church of Fairmont.

Records reveal that from 1788 through 1793, the Saddletree Church dismissed forty members to constitute Pitman’s Church, which they established most probably in 1792.  This was 38 years before the formation of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (1830) and 53 years before the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention (1845).  Through the years, the church has readily cooperated with other churches.  Rev. Pitman attended meetings of the Kehukee, Neuse, and Cape Fear Baptist Associations.  The church joined the Neuse Association in 1794.  In 1805, it became a charter member of the Cape Fear Association, and of the Robeson Association in 1883.
     Though “Missionary” is not in the name of First Baptist Church, it has been written indelibly in the hearts of its people and is a key word in its history.  This congregation has a noble heritage of mission support, expressed primarily through prayer and financial contributions.  The Woman’s Missionary Union has kept mission needs front and center, leading the church in strong prayer support.  From 1915 through 1998, there were four years that the church gave at least 17% of its total receipts to missions, ten years that it gave at least 20%, 31 years that it gave at least 30%, 18 years that it gave at least 40%, 15 years that it gave at least 50%, and five years that it gave at least 60% of its total receipts to mission causes.  Though this percentage has decreased in recent years, current leaders are committed to working toward steadily increasing it in the coming years, even as the church engages in significant mission endeavors here in Fairmont, such as a recently launched ministry to Hispanics.  In the 1980’s and 90’s, First Baptist Church has had short-term volunteer missionaries serving in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Tog.  Besides all this, Mrs. Joy Floyd Cox, who grew up in the church, currently serves with her husband David as a missionary with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Kenya.  Support for the ministries of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has been strong.  In recent years First Baptist has also supported the global missions efforts of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
     Education has been another key word in the history of First Baptist Church.  The church has always emphasized Christian education.  But in the late 1800’s, it also had a school called the Ashpole Institute.  At one point, Rev. Stinceon Ivey served as Pastor of the church and principal of the school.  The church continues to operate a preschool that it established more than a quarter of a century ago.  Support for Christian higher education has been a priority as well.  For many years, there were ties with Wake Forest University.   In more recent decades, the church has developed a strong relationship with Campbell University, with representation on four of its boards and the establishment and funding of “The Thomas L. and Edith D. Rich – First Baptist Church of Fairmont Divinity School Scholarship.”  Families in the church have also established and funded six other scholarships. Through more than two centuries of existence, 27 men have served First Baptist Church as Pastor.  From the perspective of the number of members and attendance, the church’s strongest seasons were during the pastorates of Rev. Carey P. Herring (1936-55) and Dr. Thomas L. Rich, Jr. (1956-1987).  The church has also been blessed with many strong staff ministers.  Under the leadership of Rev. Mark E. Gaskins, Pastor (1996-2003), First Baptist is building on its heritage of mission and ministry.  Under the guidance of former Youth and Children’s Minister Ted Leonard (1995-99), a strong children’s ministry has developed.  Along with new ministries, existing ministries remain strong or are being strengthened.
     Several of First Baptist’s ministers have gone on to serve on the denominational level.  Dr. Clifton J. Allen (Pastor, 1932-35) worked with the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for many years, and was the General Editor of the Broadman Bible Commentary.  Rev. David Apple (Minister of Education and Youth, 1979-82) also went on to work for the Sunday School Board.  Dr. Wayne Wike (Pastor, 1987-90), currently serves as the Executive Director of the council on Christian Higher Education for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
     But it is the faithful laity who have been instrumental in the effectiveness of First Baptist Church throughout its history.  God has used many strong lay leaders and followers to support and carry out caring ministries, evangelistic outreach, mission support, and a host of other kingdom endeavors.
     First Baptist Church is blessed with a rich and noble heritage, and has before it a bright future.  May God’s grace be upon this congregation and its members as they follow Him into the future, joining Him in the work of His kingdom.