Holy Communion Episcopal Parish, Ashe County
Encyclopedia
Holy Communion Episcopal Parish, located in Ashe County, North Carolina
, is a small parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
. The parish consists of two small historic Carpenter Gothic
churches that are both decorated with frescoes done by internationally renowned painter Ben Long
and his students.
, was built in 1905. In 1972, the Rev. Faulton Hodge became priest in charge and later agreed to let Ben Long
, a young artist newly returned to North Carolina from studying in Italy, paint wet plaster frescoes on the interior walls of St. Mary's..
, sometimes called John Early, which was donated to the church. A wall fresco was done in 1984 by Jeffrey Mims
, a student of Ben Long.
Ashe County, North Carolina
- History :Historical evidence shows that Ashe county was inhabited by Native Americans, which included the Cherokee, Creek, and Shawnee tribes. Pieces of broken pottery, arrowheads, and other Native American artifacts have been found, indicating their presence...
, is a small parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina is a diocese in the Episcopal Church. It consists of 27 counties in western North Carolina and its episcopal see is in Asheville, North Carolina, seated at Cathedral of All Souls....
. The parish consists of two small historic Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic, and Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures built by house-carpenters...
churches that are both decorated with frescoes done by internationally renowned painter Ben Long
Ben Long
Ben Long is an American painter and the grandson of noted artist McKendree Robbins Long.-Background:Reared in a family of artists, writers, professors, and university presidents, Long was as precocious in his artistic ability as he was eager to apply it...
and his students.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, located on Highway 194, in West JeffersonWest Jefferson, North Carolina
West Jefferson is a town in Ashe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census.-History:West Jefferson was incorporated as a city in 1909, and it is the second-oldest incorporated town in Ashe County. West Jefferson has the distinction of having the only cheese...
, was built in 1905. In 1972, the Rev. Faulton Hodge became priest in charge and later agreed to let Ben Long
Ben Long
Ben Long is an American painter and the grandson of noted artist McKendree Robbins Long.-Background:Reared in a family of artists, writers, professors, and university presidents, Long was as precocious in his artistic ability as he was eager to apply it...
, a young artist newly returned to North Carolina from studying in Italy, paint wet plaster frescoes on the interior walls of St. Mary's..
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church located twelve miles from St. Mary's at 120 Glendale School Road in Glendale Springs, was built in 1901. Holy Trinity closed in 1946 and stood empty and neglected for 30 years until Fr. Hodge began a drive to restore it in the late 1970s. In 1980 Ben Long and 20 assistants began painting frescoes on the walls of the church as it was being restored. Later a chapel named Christ the King was built in Holy Trinity's basement. It is named for a large mosaic done in 1920 by John Joseph EarleyJohn Joseph Earley
John Joseph Earley was the son of James Earley, a fourth generation Irish stone carver and ecclesiastical artist...
, sometimes called John Early, which was donated to the church. A wall fresco was done in 1984 by Jeffrey Mims
Jeffrey Mims
D. Jeffrey Mims, born 1954, North Carolina, USA, is a painter and muralist working in the classical realist tradition. In 1976, Mims was awarded an Elizabeth T. Greenshields Foundation grant to copy masterworks in museums in England, France, and Italy...
, a student of Ben Long.