RECTOR

The Rev. Karen C. Barfield (she/her) was ordained in 2003 in Memphis, TN, her hometown. She is a fourth generation Episcopalian, so The Episcopal Church is in her blood! Over the past 23 years she has served many different types of congregations in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia: large and small, urban and suburban…from campus ministry to cathedral staff. Her joys in ministry include worship, pastoral care, spiritual practices, and issues of justice. She enjoys gardening, yoga, cooking, taking long walks with her husband, and designing spaces (indoors and out). Karen has completed training in spiritual direction and her 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training. Her husband, Ray, is a writer and palliative care physician. Karen and Ray have two grown children and one grandchild. She is most grateful to be living in the mountains!

Contact: rectorstandrewscanton@gmail.com

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR

Carolyn (she/they) is a cradle Episcopalian and retired world language and science teacher who grew up in Canton and graduated from Pisgah High School in 1979. After 25 years living in Durham, Wisconsin, Germany, and the Chicago area, she moved back to Haywood County with her husband Charlie and their two children. Carolyn was overjoyed to return to the beloved church community that played such an instrumental role in her upbringing. In her spare time she enjoys caring for her guinea pigs and horses as well as gardening, reading, hiking, and dabbling in creative writing and watercolor painting. She also enjoys teaming up with Charlie on home and cabin improvement projects, both indoors and outdoors.

Contact: standrewscanton@gmail.com

PARISH MUSICIAN

We welcome Ayush as our Parish Musician beginning September 1, 2026!

Ayush Joshi (he/him) is a musician who began working in Music Ministry almost immediately after graduating from the College of William and Mary in 2020. Over the past few years his primary professional experience has been with traditional volunteer choirs, handbell choir, preschool music classes, Taize, contemporary church music, and much more. In addition to regularly playing church services, he also has a wide breadth of professional experience as an accompanist and freelance gigging musician, playing just about everything from weddings to jazz concerts and musical theatre shows to ballet classes. Outside of music he enjoys hiking and backpacking, and also loves to cook. His wife, Sarah Grace Frary, is a professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University. They both live together with their two parrots, Howie and Joni, in Waynesville.