Excerpts from “The History of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church”
by Mrs. Gladys Gainey Martin

In the early 1900’s, there was no church….but there was a school. Herman School was located in a wooded area where the Gainey land and Quinn land joined. In 1907, Rev. T. H. Patrick of Clinton came to Herman School every Sunday to conduct Sunday school.
Rev. Mann, the Presbyterian minister from Clinton, preached every fourth Sunday afternoon. The congregation met in the Herman School for about three years until a church could be built. Men in the community donated materials and built the church. Mr. A.S. (Gus) Coley built the first pews and the pulpit furniture.

In 1910 the Church was established with 13 charter members. Reverends Tom Hood and Richard Bass organized the church, and the congregation voted to have it constituted as Hood’s Chapel in honor of Rev. Hood. Concurrently, we were admitted into the South River Baptist Association. In 1911 the church was renamed Mount Vernon. In 1924, the South River Baptist Association was dissolved and reorganized as the New South River Baptist Association located in the Fayetteville area. Mount Vernon was a charter member. In 1928 we petitioned the Eastern Baptist Association for admittance. In 1929 we were released from South River and in 1930 the church was accepted into the Eastern Baptist Association.

Rev. H.L. Stewart of Clinton and Rev. Baines of Dunn served as interim pastors and in 1922 we called Rev. Howard Pipkin of Mt. Olive as our first full-time Pastor. In 1931 Rev. J. B. Ousley of Buies Creek was called as pastor. In August of that year he conducted revival for ten days. Fifty-four made a profession of faith and were baptized in Beaver Dam Creek. This was the largest addition to the church at any single time in its history.

In December of 1943 a blaze erupted around the chimney after church and the church burned. The piano and pews were saved but the church was a total loss. Mr. Marion Gainey loaned his pack house so church services could be continued. Meanwhile construction began on a new church and services began again in 1945.

The founders of Mount Vernon, their children and children’s spouses, and generations to follow have been active members serving in every office and organization of the church. From its humble beginnings with 13 charter members, Mount Vernon has continued to grow. A new, larger sanctuary was dedicated in 2010 and now with over 450 members, we continue to offer the community a place to worship, grow in the faith and as our cornerstone states, this is.. “Where Faith Takes On Life.”