Church of the Incarnation
Why it's listed
Standing on a corner lot in downtown Highlands, this small frame Episcopal church was completed in the summer of 1896 by builder W.B. McGuire of the Franklin Furniture Company. It began as a mission of the Reverend John A. Deal, who rode a circuit through far western North Carolina, and much of its $2,032 construction cost came from northern congregations. Highlands had been founded in 1875 as a resort town, and the church reflects the founders' wish to give visitors and residents a religious presence. The building has a steep gable roof, a square entrance tower with an open octagonal belfry, a polygonal apse, weatherboard siding and a poplar-sheathed interior with an exposed scissor truss. A 1981 addition containing offices, classrooms and a parish hall adjoins it but remains clearly distinct. The church was listed for its role in local social history and as a modest, simplified example of Gothic Revival design.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be significant for social history as an early Episcopal mission in far western North Carolina and part of Highlands' development as a resort town. It is also significant as a simplified small-parish example of late nineteenth-century Gothic Revival church architecture. Despite later additions, the original church still conveys its 1896 mission character.
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 96000566, listed May 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 111 N. 5th St., Highlands |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | May 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000566 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1946 |
| Architect / builder | McGuire, W.B. |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active parish church in religious use, with a 1981 addition housing offices, Sunday School rooms and a parish hall. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 35.05212, -83.19562 (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 96000566.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117972
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.