Someone recently asked about St. John In the Wilderness Episcopal church and 
I have told her I would get the history she needs.  At the same time it 
occurred to me that some of you SC researchers might like to know about the 
history of Calvary Episcopal Church in Fletcher, NC.  Both of these churches 
had their beginnings in SC.  Since I know some of the Calvary history now I 
will share it briefly here.  The story is that in about 1800 gold deposits 
were discoveredin Western NC and this attracted settlers.  Roads were built 
to accomadate this influx.  Charleston was still the nearest seaport and that 
was a hard six weeds trip over these poor roads.  During this time affluent 
families from the "low country" of SC started coming to Flat Rock and 
Fletcher because of the pleasant weather during the summer.  With their 
travels the roads were improved.  They came over the Saluda Gap to Flat Rock 
first then moved on a little further to the Asheville area.  One of  these 
people was Daniel Blake, b. in England, he came as a young man several times 
and finally decided to live here.  He built a lovely home called "The 
Meadows" which is still standing but I hear rumblings from time to time that 
it might go the way of so many others.  He bought 1000 acres in 1827 and had 
an English gardener lay out the grounds.  His son Francis Daniels Blake also 
lived there.  Calvary Church was started in his home in 1857.  Mr. Alexander 
Robertson bought land north of the Blakes and this property is now Christ 
School.  Mr. Joseph B. Pyatt also bought property here and I believe his home 
is now a bed and breakfast.  There is a more detailed history of the church 
available through the church.  Here are some of the other names associated 
with the church's beginnings:  Edmund Molyneux who was a British Consul to 
America , Arthur Blake, William Heyward, DAniel Blake Heyward, and Walter 
Blake Heyward.  E. C. Jones and architect from Charleston drew the plans and 
Ephriam Clayton was the contractor.  Another early participant was Dr. George 
W. Fletcher for whom the town of Fletcher was later named.  In 1852 the post 
office was called Shufordsville and was named for Jacob Rhyne Shuford.  The 
Shufordville settlement was later named Arden.  

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