St. Mary's Church
Why it's listed
Gothic Revival church built in 1914 at the corner of Charlotte Street and Macon Avenue in Asheville's Grove Park neighborhood, designed by Richard Sharp Smith, a vestry member of the parish. Its red brick walls, cruciform plan, pointed-arch windows and oak entry doors remain largely intact, and a 1960 addition to the east end was built in matching materials. The church was founded in June 1914 by Rev. Charles Mercer Hall, who had converted members of Trinity Parish to Anglo-Catholic worship. Its high liturgy has been in continuous use since then, and the parish is described as the only uncompromising Anglo-Catholic church in North Carolina. The grounds follow a landscape plan begun around 1915 by Chauncey Beadle of the Biltmore Estate, with native rhododendrons, dogwoods, stone paths and retaining walls. The Wayside Shrine, set at the corner in 1915, stands on the site. The church is significant for its architecture, its landscape and its role in the religious and social history of the neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its association with the Anglo-Catholic movement in the Episcopal Church in North Carolina, and for its architecture and landscape plan, which were designed by Richard Sharp Smith and Chauncey Beadle. It states that the church remains virtually intact and that it introduced the Gothic Revival style to the neighborhood.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94001476, listed December 23, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 337 Charlotte St., Asheville |
|---|---|
| County | Buncombe County |
| Listed | December 23, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001476 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Richard Sharp Smith (architect); Chauncey Beadle (landscape architect) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All existing fabric is described as in very good condition. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Grove Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.61108, -82.54489 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94001476.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590276
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.