In 1898, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church elected Horner to organize the Missionary District of Asheville.
George Vanderbilt personally pledged to pay for the new bishop's position. He was consecrated missionary bishop on December 28, 1898, by the Bishop of North Carolina
Joseph Blount Cheshire. When the Missionary District of Asheville was organized into the Diocese of Western North Carolina, Horner became its first diocesan bishop. He remained at the diocese until his death in Asheville on April 5, 1933. ==References==