Episcopal Press and News

Priest/Cartoonist Frederick Pope

Episcopal News Service. April 11, 1985 [85080]

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (DPS, April 11) -- The Rev. Frederick A. Pope, whose cartoons enlivened Episcopal Church publications for years, died of cancer March 22. He had moved to Cherokee Village, Ark., earlier this year after retiring from the parish ministry.

Pope's cartoons had been printed in church publications across the United States. Through his pen, he poked gentle fun at the Episcopal Church and took on issues as diverse as acolyte foibles, school prayer and the nuclear weapon controversy. His work was carried in the Diocesan Press Service and also was a regular feature of the General Convention advocacy pamphlets called "Issues."

Pope was a graduate of Trinity College and Berkely Divinity School. He had served Grace Church, Lawrence, Mass., and St. Andrew's Hopkinton, N.H., before becoming the first vicar of St. George's Church, Dayton, Ohio, where he was rector until 1966. He retired as rector of St. Stephen's, Ferguson, Mo., at the end of 1984. During his career, he was also active in diocesan education, evangelism and liturgical work and had served as a deputy to General Convention from Missouri in 1976.

The Rt. Rev. William A. Jones, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri, presided at the funeral services March 27. Pope is survived by his wife, Grace, four children and four step children.