About Church of the Epiphany · Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Church of the Epiphany is a seasonal Catholic mission church located at 163 Galax Lane in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a mission of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church in Boone and operates only from late May through late September/early October, serving the seasonal influx of tourists and half-time residents who escape the summer heat in the mountains. Built ca. 1947, it was the first Catholic church ever constructed in Watauga County and remains one of the most picturesque small Catholic worship sites in western North Carolina. Today it is pastored by Father Brendan Joseph Buckler and offers Masses in both English and the Latin Novus Ordo from the 1970 Roman Missal.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- The Epiphany of the Lord
- Rector
- Reverend Brendan Joseph Buckler
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Church of the Epiphany offers a warm, seasonal home for Catholics vacationing in the High Country of North Carolina as well as for local residents and summer visitors. Worshippers can attend Mass in English or in the Latin Novus Ordo, and confession is available on Friday mornings before Mass. As a small stone chapel near the Blue Ridge Parkway, it provides an intimate, mountain setting for the Eucharist from late spring through early fall — a unique opportunity for prayer and worship in one of the most scenic corners of western North Carolina.
Mass times at Church of the Epiphany
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 9:00–9:25 AM (at Church of the Epiphany, Blowing Rock)
- Appointments for confession can also be made by contacting the parish office at (828) 264-8338
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 PM (at St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country, Boone — the mother parish)
About Church of the Epiphany
Church of the Epiphany is a seasonal Catholic mission church located in the mountain village of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It is operated as a mission of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church in Boone and opens its doors each year from the last weekend in May through the last weekend in September (sometimes into early October) to serve the summer community. Visitors and seasonal residents of the High Country are warmly welcomed to attend Mass during the open season.
- Status: Mission (dependent parish) of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country, Boone
- Season: Open late May through late September/early October (closed in winter)
- Patron: The Epiphany of the Lord (feast day January 6)
- Diocese: Diocese of Charlotte
History of the Parish
Church of the Epiphany was built ca. 1947 on a tract of land donated to the Catholic Diocese of North Carolina on 31 December 1945 by R.H. Gore — president of the Cloudland Hotel Company — and his wife Lorena, who had summer ties to the Blowing Rock area. Franciscan fathers from Lenoir collected the funds to build the church, and the structure became the first Catholic church ever constructed in Watauga County. The small stone chapel with pine interior walls was designed from the beginning for seasonal summer use, and that character has been preserved.
- ca. 1947: Church built as the first Catholic church in Watauga County
- Land deeded 31 December 1945 by R.H. and Lorena Gore to the Catholic Diocese of North Carolina
- Fundraising led by Franciscan fathers from Lenoir
- Native-stone exterior and pine interior walls
- Marked by the Blowing Rock Historical Society as a historic religious site
Parish Staff and Leadership
Church of the Epiphany is cared for by the staff of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church in Boone. Father Brendan Joseph Buckler serves as pastor of both parishes. He was installed by Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte at a bilingual Mass on September 1, having previously served as pastor of Mother of Mercy Church in Washington, NC, and having been ordained a priest for the Diocese of Raleigh in 2011. He is originally from Atlanta and moved to western North Carolina to be closer to his father.
- Pastor: Reverend Brendan Joseph Buckler
- Administrative Assistant: Kathy Camilleri
- Director of Religious Education: Vanessa Carson
- Sacramental emergencies (after hours only): 828-865-0311
Mother Parish — St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country, Boone
The parish offices for both St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country and Church of the Epiphany are located on the lower level of St. Elizabeth Church at 259 Pilgrims Way, Boone, NC 28607. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (offices are closed during Masses). Visitors to the Blowing Rock mission are encouraged to call the Boone office at (828) 264-8338 with any questions.
- Parish office address: 259 Pilgrims Way, Boone, NC 28607
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Main phone: (828) 264-8338
- Spanish Mass at St. Elizabeth: Sunday 11:30 AM
Visiting Church of the Epiphany
Because the mission is open seasonally, visitors should plan their trip between the last weekend in May and the last weekend in September (sometimes into early October). The church sits in the Green Park Historic District near the Blue Ridge Parkway and offers a uniquely intimate setting for Mass, particularly for those vacationing in the High Country of western North Carolina. Whether you attend the Saturday evening English Mass or one of the Latin Novus Ordo Masses on Friday or Sunday, the small stone chapel welcomes all who wish to worship there during the summer months.
- Season: late May through late September/early October
- Setting: Green Park Historic District, Blowing Rock
- Near the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway
- Welcomes both local residents and visiting Catholics