The Reverend David McNair
David McNair was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2008. Before coming to St. John’s in September 2023, David served as the rector of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Mars Hill for 13½ years.
He also served as the Assistant Priest at St. James Episcopal Church, Black Mountain from 2008-2010.
David is a husband, a dad, an outdoor enthusiast, a mountain and road cyclist, a community builder, a peace and justice advocate, and a dedicated practitioner of centering prayer and yoga.
David is married to Lynn Michie, a school counselor at Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School in Candler. They live in the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Asheville. David and Lynn enjoy tending their front yard organic garden and exploring the new adventure of empty nesting. Their two children, Sadie and Simon, are now fledgling adults. Sadie, age 22, graduated from UNC-Charlotte in May with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree and is currently working as the summer Assistant Director at Camp Henry. Simon, age 20, is a rising sophomore at NC State majoring in Biological Engineering and is a summer camp counselor at Camp Grier in Old Fort.
Before being ordained, David worked for nearly a decade as the Canon for Youth, College, and Young Adult Ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Western N.C. and as Director of Camp Henry, the diocesan summer camp. Besides many years of experience working with young people, both teaching and designing programs, David has a reverence for ritual and liturgy and is passionate about the work of racial healing and community building.
A son of Southern Baptist parents and a father who was also a minister, David was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and moved with his family to Bluefield, West Virginia as a teenager. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1988 and received an M.Div. degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993. After graduating from Wake Forest, David worked as a Wilderness Therapeutic Camp Counselor, a Hospital Chaplain, and a Church Youth Minister. David earned a certificate in Anglican Studies from the University of the South School of Theology in 2008.
Paul Templon, Choirmaster
Paul Templon (Pianist, Soloist) was involved with music practically from birth. He began playing piano with his mother and occasionally singing at the same time. He was in the senior choir from the time he began first grade.
He was very comfortable on stage due to the numerous historic dramas, etc about his hometown of Shenandoah, Virginia where he sang, danced, and acted. In eighth grade he was asked to perform at a Telethon. The President of Sheandoah Conservatory of Music called his home and told his father that if he would enroll there after graduation, he would receive a scholarship. Paul attended the Conservatory and graduated with Majors in Voice and Piano and Minors in Flute and Conducting. He met David Lloyd while receiving his Master’s Degree in Performance of Voice and Piano. David Lloyd was Artistic Director for The Lake George Opera Company and asked him to become an Apprentice Artist with The Lake George Opera Company. While there he performed a number of roles La Boheme, Rigoletta, Madame Butterfly, Don Giovanni, The Taming of the Shrew, and Elephant Steps. In addition to singing and acting he was given the responsibility of Assistant Director for the company. After 5 years with The Lake George Opera Company, Paul went back to school to begin work on a Doctoral Degree.
Paul has performed with Jane Shepherd (Voice) and Joanne Drescher (Piano) to name just a few. He has been conductor and soloist for many choruses. When Paul was able to get back into performance, he became Choral Conductor for The Michigan Opera Company, The Dayton Opera, The West Virginia Opera Company, and the Asheville Lyric Opera. During this time, he was also teaching Voice and Piano at a number of Universities and from his own studio. Throughout his life he has been an accompanist for many artists.
If you were to ask him whether he enjoys teaching or performing better, he would say “ I love performing, but never get tired or bored from teaching.”
Neva Smith, Nursery
I am blessed to spend time with and watch over the youth at Saint John's on Sundays during service. I was born and lived in Boulder, Colorado until I was 3, I have grown up and lived in Asheville now for 14 years.
I love my parents and my dog very much. I spend my free time hanging out with my friends, going to the gym, and babysitting.
I absolutely love spending time with kids they make me so happy and bring so much joy to this world.