Clergy and Staff
The Reverend Bentley Manning, Rector
The Rev. Bentley Manning became the Rector of the Church of the Incarnation in January of 2018. Before coming to North Carolina, he was Assistant to the Rector at St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands in Birmingham, AL (2014 -2017). Prior to that, he served as a missionary in the Dominican Republic.
Bentley is a graduate of Auburn University (2006) and received his Masters of Divinity from The University of the South: Sewanee (2014).
Outside of work, Bentley enjoys whitewater kayaking, walking in the woods, and spending time with his family.
The Revered Kirkland “Skully” Knight, Associate Rector
The Rev. Kirkland “Skully” Knight joined the Church of the Incarnation as Associate Rector in 2024. Before moving to Highlands, Skully served at Episcopal School of Baton Rouge as the Senior Chaplain and Associate Head of School for Service Learning (2011-2023). Skully earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and his M. Div. from The University of the South at Sewanee. He has been married to his wife, Mary Sue since 1994. Together they have two daughters, Emily and Katie.
Charles Banks, Organist and Choirmaster
A native of western North Carolina, Charles attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music in 1985. In 1992, he was awarded a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance with highest honors. A first-prize winner in the American Guild of Organists Competition (Western North Carolina), he studied organ with Dr. Marilyn Keiser of Bloomington, Indiana and Dr. Donald McDonald of New York City.
Prior to his appointment as Director of Music at Grace Church in the Mountains – Waynesville in 2018, Charles was Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Westfield, New Jersey from 1986-2018. At St. Paul’s, he developed a chorister program for all ages and began the Friends of Music concert series. As part of the concert series, he conducted over one hundred works for choirs, soloists and orchestra, including members of the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Orchestra of Saint Luke’s in the Fields, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the American Brass Quintet.
Alisa Shapard, Parish Administrator
Teresa Hollingsworth, Finance and Membership Administrator
If there is a pastoral emergency,
please call the church offices at 828-526-2968, or contact Fr. Manning at bentley@incarnationwnc.org or Fr. Knight at skully@incarnationwnc.org.
If you are unable to be at church due to illness or other reasons, we are happy to bring communion to you.
To receive communion in your home from one of our Lay Eucharist Visitors, please contact Fr. Knight.