St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson, North Carolina, is a historic white-frame chapel built in 1905. Its Carpenter Gothic style stands out with white clapboard, green trim, and a red front door. Although it seats fewer than 100 people, the church is one of Ashe County’s most cherished landmarks and draws many visitors. Much of its appeal comes from a collection of true frescoes painted in the 1970s by Benjamin F. Long IV and his students. Inside, visitors can see works like Mary Great with Child, John the Baptist, and The Mystery of Faith, all glowing in soft natural light and showing the detailed art of fresco painting.

The church also displays other paintings, such as The Laughing Christ by Bo Bartlett, and has beautiful stained glass windows that add to the peaceful setting. St. Mary’s is now part of the Episcopal Parish of the Holy Communion with Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs. It is open to the public at all hours, with an audio guide available, and offers a quiet place for worship, reflection, and enjoying sacred art in the mountains of western North Carolina.

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Resources

The Episcopal Parish of the Holy Communion Website

The Ashe County Frescoes Website

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Location

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Social Media

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