William West Skiles
Deacon, Monk and Missionary, 1862

The first person in the Anglican Communion since the English Reformation to persevere in the dedicated life under the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, William West Skiles was born October 12, 1807, on a farm in eastern North Carolina. Young Skiles grew up in an Episcopal family before there was a Diocese or a Bishop. As a young adult he became a successful farmer and overseer of a lumber mill.

In 1842 the Rt. Rev. Levi Silliman Ives, the second Bishop of North Carolina, held services in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which he later named “Valle Crucis” (from the shape of a cross formed by the three creeks flowing into the valley). He established a mission to spread the Gospel, to teach agriculture, and to train clergy for the Diocese. In 1844 William West Skiles, at 37 years old, known to be simple, kind, and to have sound practical judgement, was appointed to oversee the mission farm and livestock, and to teach such skills to boys enrolled in the school. In 1847 Bishop Ives encouraged the mission to form themselves into a religious community, taking the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, with the Rev. William G. French as superior. Skiles, impressed by the religious life of the mission, took the vows, and also prepared himself for holy orders. On August 1 of the same year he was ordained to the Diaconate. For two years the community flourished: Prayer Book offices were said daily, there were eight men preparing for holy orders, missions were formed at Upper Watauga, Lower Watauga and Valle Crucis, mountain people were strengthened by the reverence of the liturgy and, unable to read, loved to hear the scriptures read aloud. A school was established to teach the children the catechism as well as reading and writing.

As successful as the mission was, and as sincere the devotion of the brothers was, there was dissension within the diocese between the bishop and those who believed the rumors that the Valle Crucis community was a “hotbed for Romanism” (the chief objection being the use of sacramental confession). In 1849 the Bishop, suffering from mental instability, dissolved the Valle Crucis religious community, and the diocese cut off all support. The superior and the brothers left, leaving only Brother Skiles, the faithful deacon and shepherd, who could not abandon his scattered flock.

For thirteen years Brother Skiles was indeed the shepherd to the mountain people. He walked or rode on horseback, often in severe weather, over a thousand miles a year, from Wilkesboro to Asheville, to preach the Gospel, to lead Prayer book services, to minister to the sick (he had learned rudimentary medical skills from a brother who had been a medical student), to read and answer letters for those unable to do either, to explain legal documents and settle disputes, to pray with his beloved flock, and to teach the catechism.

He continued to live in poverty, never married, and gave his obedience to his Bishop and to the priests who came to administer the sacraments.

He delighted in the growth of the mission on the Lower Watauga River and aspired to help the faithful to build their own chapel. With contributions of labor, lumber and small financial gifts, he designed and supervised the construction of a simple, but architecturally beautiful chapel, dedicated to St. John the Baptist. On August 22, 1862, Bishop Atkinson consecrated the chapel, with Brother Skiles taking his part in the glorious liturgy. The holy desire of his heart had been granted, but failing health did not permit him to enter this fair and lovely chapel again. He died of cancer on December 8, 1862. His remains were buried near the entrance to the crown of his ministry, Church of the St. John the Baptist.

In his tribute to Brother Skiles at the Diocesan Convention the following spring, Bishop Atkinson stated, “He was loved and honored for his humility, self-denial, diligence, affectionate temper towards his fellow men, and his unwearied zeal in the services of his Master.”

On Sunday July 1, 2001 The Rte. Rev. Robert H. Johnson, Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina presided over the rededication of a new headstone marking the grave of this remarkable man of God at St. John the Baptist church on the lower Watauga River.

	The Rev. Lee Frontis Anthony (photo courtesy of Reba Herman Chapman)

Father Anthony

In 1917 the Rev. Lee Frontis Anthony of Lincoln County was sent to Valle Crucis to serve as deacon-in-charge of the Holy Cross Mission. He was ordained to the priesthood the following year, just as the dreadful influenza epidemic was taking its toll with the lives of the mountain people. With the absence of antibiotics and with full awareness that he could easily contract this often fatal disease, he ministered to his infected flock, going in and out of their cabins, caring for their needs, splitting firewood, helping with farm work, cooking food, and strengthening them with prayers and the sacrament. On Christmas night, 1918, at the age of 30, Father Anthony developed a high fever and died on January 5, 1919, the eve of Epiphany. The entire community mourned the death of their selfless and beloved shepherd.

The following memorial was written by a representative committee of the Holy Cross Mission and unanimously approved by the congregation into the mission’s records:

“The members of the Holy Cross Chapel desire to express their keen sorrow in the death of their beloved Priest, Lee Frontis Anthony, and desire to express their profound sympathy with his family to whom his death has brought sorrow and bereavement.

We can best express our sympathy by putting on record our sense of personal loss in the death of one whose cheerful fellowship, and devoted loyalty were characteristic of his service as a priest in this Mission.

We love to think of the gracious impression he has made on the hearts of all with whom he came in contact and we regard it as a special privilege to have known so devout and loyal a Christian man, genial in friendship, and unusually gifted in his ability to go in and out among his people.

His cheery smile brightened those in sorrow as well as those who were strong to enjoy.

We bow in submission to the Mighty Hand of our All-wise Father.

May he rest in peace.”

Feb. 7, 1919 signed:
Mary Horner, Nellie E. Tester, Susie Taylor

The committee consisted of Miss Horner, principle of the Valle Crucis School, “Aunt Nellie” Tester, as she was known to local families, and “Susie” Taylor at age 19 or 20, who later was know as Sue Taylor Murray, a strong leader in the church and community throughout her long life.

Simultaneously the school’s news publication included the following as its lead article:

“Word comes announcing the death of the Rev. Lee Frontis Anthony who died in Valle Crucis. This is a sad and terrible loss to the school and to the whole community. His loving sympathy and untiring zeal in ministering to the many individuals and whole families in the fearful epidemic of influenza have endeared him to everyone. He has served his people without fear day and night. His death has cast a gloom that will be hard to throw off, for he was loved by his people as but few are privileged to be loved. He was pure and lovely in life, a faithful and true friend, and a pastor who loved his work and his people. He was sick only a few days with influenza and pneumonia and died on Sunday morning January 5, 1919.”

The impact of Father Anthony’s sacrifice is felt even today in Valle Crucis. At least two babies were named for him: Edward Frontis Tester, son of Duke and Nettie Tester and brother of Jean Tester Herman and the late Rev. Welch Tester, and Frontis Davis, son of James and Bessie Davis. Many residents now in their sixties and seventies remember their parents speaking about his ministry with reverence and sincere gratitude. The brass cross and candlesticks on the altar today at Holy Cross Church were given to the Glory of God in grateful memory of the Rev. Lee Frontis Anthony.

- Ralph Tilden