Diocesan History Day 1

Honoring Those Who Have Gone Before

—A Retrospective of Notable People Who Helped Form the Diocese of WNC —

Presenters:  The Rev. Dr. Scott Oxford and The Rev. Timothy McRee

The Rev. Dr. Scott A. Oxford is an eighth generation Appalachian and a lifelong Episcopalian. He grew up at Grace Church, Morganton and is a Camp Henry alum. A graduate of Appalachian State University, Scott received his seminary training at The School of Theology, Sewanee and earned his Doctor of Ministry at Drew University. He is retired after 30 years of active ministry serving parishes in his native Burke County, Hickory, Valle Crucis and Black Mountain. He also served as Canon to the Ordinary with Bishop Robert Johnson. Father Scott is currently writing about the history of this diocese, personal recollections of ministry amongst the mountain folk of this region, and a novel. He is the father of two and resides with his wife Julia in Black Mountain.

The Rev. Timothy McRee is a native of Hickory. He was baptized at the First United Methodist Church of Hickory, and joined the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany of Newton in 1973. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University and the School of Theology of the University of the South at Dewanee, Tenn. He was ordained as a priest at Grace Episcopal Church of Asheville where he served as assistant rector in 1993.  He was called to Canton as rector at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in July 1995. Over the years he was involved in many community-based ministries, including Canton Missional Network and Backpacks of Love.  He retired in 2020 and lives in Asheville. He and his late wife Beverly are the parents of two adult children.