At the turn of the twentieth century, the Episcopal Church (United States) wanted to increase mission outreach to isolated communities within the Commonwealth.
William T. Roberts organized both the Episcopal mission at Phoebe Needles, as well as St. John-of-the-Mountain in Endicott, Virginia.
Commencing with the first semester, Miss Caryetta "Etta" Davis took charge of the school as the missionary-in-charge.
This construction was almost entirely financed by Arthur C. Needles, who was at the time president of the Norfolk and Western Railroad, in honor of his daughter, Phoebe.
"He became interested through an Episcopal minister to underprivileged children in Franklin County, Virginia, and established there the St. Phoebe's Mission, in honor of his daughter, who died as a child.
For the last sixteen years of his life he virtually supported the mission, although he was himself of the Quaker faith.
"[2] "Caryetta Davis (known as Miss Etta), the daughter of an Episcopal priest, taught at the school for thirty years.
“More than 100 years ago, a mission school for children who lived in the remote mountains of Franklin County was formed.
The building has served as a school, an Episcopal mission, and more recently as a summer camp and conference center.
"[8] The Emmanuel mission church was originally constructed of wood, and was destroyed in a snow storm in 1914.
As the church and Episcopal mission school, it is located in the Western portion of Franklin County, near the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and about 20 miles from Rocky Mount, Virginia.
William T. Roberts and endowed by Arthur C. Needles, then president of the Norfolk and Western Railway.
Located near Floyd County, Virginia and Henry County, Virginia, the 85 acres of grounds and the facilities of the church have been used for a wide number of parish and public outreach services, from government planning sessions to puppetry workshops and congregational meetings.
"[10] Puppeteers Mimi Buyler and Jim Tucker taught a puppetry workshop at Phoebe Needles in 2004.
It was used in the past to relate Bible stories to those who were illiterate or didn't have access to the printed text.
"In a way, puppetry is going back to its original role," Tucker said, referring to the subject of the upcoming workshop.