The Sloop Chapel & Ben Long Fresco     

April 2009

All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2009
All Rights Reserved

The artist Benjamin Long, IV has left magnificent frescoes in the most humble settings throughout western North Carolina. His "Mystery of Faith" frescoes in St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Jefferson and his "Last Supper" fresco in The Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs (see photos of both below) are renowned for their beauty and their powerful images. But the settings for his frescoes are very much a part of their impact.

Dr. Phyllis Crain, Director of the Crossnore School, brought Ben Long to the Eustace H. Sloop Chapel on the campus to create "Suffer the Little Children" for the Crossnore students. Dr. Crain was touched by so many of the students who had come from backgrounds of neglect and sometimes abuse. She wanted a constant reminder for them that they were loved by God. The fresco was completed in 2006.

E.H. Sloop Chapel was built in 1957 to honor the life and work of Dr. Mary Sloop's husband Dr. Eustace Sloop and provide a place the children of The Crossnore School to worship. Eustace Sloop's many contributions to the startup and growth of the Crossnore School are documented in Dr. Mary Sloop's book, "Miracle in the Hills" (see the resources section).

According to the Crossnore School website (see link in the Resources Section):

"Today the chapel is used for weekly vesper services and other special events. Former students often come back to campus to be married in the chapel-a place of love and memories. The chimes were given in honor of Mrs. William Henry Belk, Sr., by Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Belk. The sound system was donated in 1962 by Margaret Henderson Smith, Albemarle Chapter, NCSDAR off Charlottesville, Va., Light fixtures were donated by Mrs. E.K. Spleden "In memory of a friend who loved little children.""

At left is the Glendale Springs Benjamin Long fresco and below is his fresco in West Jefferson. Click on each photo to learn more about these frescoes.