Leadership

The Rev. Will Bryant
Rector-in-Charge

Will Bryant is a native of Western North Carolina and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 2021.

Will holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Divinity degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California.

With over 12 years of experience working in and among Episcopal congregations, Will is passionate about pastoral care, preaching, and youth ministry. He is a product of Camp Henry, and he attended the diocesan summer camp for over a decade as a camper and counselor. He proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Lake Logan Episcopal Center.

Will is a proud alumnus of the Young Adult Service Corps of the Episcopal Church (YASC). Will completed two years as a YASC missionary, proudly serving at the Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong, and St. Paul's Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome, Italy.

When not at church, you can probably find Will out running or hiking around Saluda. He loves being outside, golfing, cooking, reading fiction, and playing backgammon. He and his wife, Molly, were married in July 2023, and they live in the church rectory with their one-eyed cat, Moody, and their charming dog, Camper. [email protected]

Vivian James
Parish Administrator

Vivian James was graduated from a Travel School in Atlanta, GA in the early 1980’s. During her 35 plus years in the industry she has worked with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as well as the World Methodist Congress in planning conferences and travel arrangements for employees and participants. She was born and raised in Saluda. After moving away in the early 80’s she, her husband Alex, and their daughter Ali moved back to Saluda in the mid 90’s to Vivian’s grandparents family home where they still live. You can see her and their dog, Kuechly, walking around town pretty much on a daily basis. [email protected]

Richard Winchell
Choir Director

Richard Winchell composer, and conductor, was born in Rochester, NY where he lived and worked until being inducted into the US Army in 1956. He was stationed at West Point Military Academy until being discharged in 1958. Richard holds a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate in Music Composition from Florida State where he studied composition with Dr. John Boda and the American opera composer, Carlisle Floyd. His applied performance studies included, piano, voice and conducting with Richard Burgin, former concert master of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was during this time that he received an “Emerging Artist Award” for music composition from the State of Florida in 1982.
Richard has worked for the past 50 years as a Church Music Director preparing and conducting church choirs for worship through out the southeast. He along with his wife Julianna have devoted the main portion of their lives to the service of music in the church. Richard, Julianna, and grandson Kaleb moved from Cape Cod to Hendersonville in 2015. [email protected].

Julianna Winchell
Organist

 Julianna Winchell (Julie) was born in Greenville, AL and grew up in Lake Wales, FL, went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from Florida State University. She studied piano and composition with John Boda and organ with Michael Corzine and James Hart. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and Pi Kappa Lambda, National professional music fraternities.
While at FSU she met and married fellow music student, Richard Winchell, a composer/conductor. They've worked together in churches and taught privately for over 50 years. Julie also worked in a nursing-rehab/facility and presented piano programs. She proudly formed an Alzheimer Bell Choir. She's served as accompanist to instrumentalists, vocalists, choral groups and musical productions.
Julie and Richard are parents of John, Kate and Elizabeth and grandparents of Kaleb who lives with them and their two cats, Moe and Bebe. She enjoys walking, reading, playing word games online with former students, making soup in winter and salad in summer. [email protected]

Tim Morris
Bookkeeper

Cindy Hemenway
Bookkeeper

Tim and his wife, Anne Lee, have lived on Laurel Mountain Trail in Saluda for around five years, moving from Charleston, South Carolina. Tim has a BBA and an MBA from the University of Georgia. He has worked in the insurance industry for firms like Travelers, The Hartford and others since graduating UGA in 1973. You can access LinkedIn for his business history. He was born in Rossville, Georgia near Chattanooga, Tennessee and has two daughters living in Chattanooga and Marietta and a step-daughter who lives in Seattle. Tim is largely retired but does some independent consulting and volunteer work with SCORE, Saluda Community Table, and Pop Up Pantry, as well as attending the Men’s Club. He plays golf at the Hendersonville Country Club and belongs to EFitness Gym in Hendersonville.
morrisct@live.com

Cindy has lived in Saluda for almost 14 years. She has a BA from the University of Massachusetts. She began her career in the banking industry in a start up division of the secondary mortgage market. Then she became an independent contractor working for start-up companies. Although she in currently retired, she continues to work as an independent contractor offering bookkeeping services to individuals and businesses. In addition, she is a Board Member for Saluda Living In Place (SLIP). In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, glass fusing and most of all walking and hiking with her dog, Yaicha.
[email protected]

Retired Clergy

Transfiguration is very blessed to have retired clergy living in and near Saluda that serve at the altar, lead forums, and preach occasionally.

The Rev. Billy Shand
Priest Associate

The Rev. Paula Morton
Rector Emeritus

Our 2024 Vestry

The Vestry – is our governing body and their responsibilities are outlined in the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. Transfiguration is led by 7 members who are elected for a 3-year term.