Give thanks for the life of the Rev. Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr., who died August 25, 2021, at the age of 89. Mr. Lowe was ordained to the priesthood in 1960. He began his ministry serving in parishes of the Dioceses of South Carolina and Southwestern Virginia. In 1967, he was called to the staff of the Diocese of Virginia as Executive Secretary of the Department of Christian Social Relations. He returned to full time parish ministry in 1970, serving as Rector of Holy Comforter, Richmond until 1985.
While in Virginia, Mr. Lowe also served on many diocesan leadership bodies including the Liturgical Commission, Roslyn Advisory Committee, the diocesan Executive Board, and as a Deputy Alternate to General Convention. From 1984-1985, he was President of the Standing Committee. In 1985, he moved to the Diocese of Delaware where he served in parishes until retiring from full time parish ministry and returning to Virginia in 1994.
He served as Interim Rector of St. John’s, Richmond, 1994-1996, and in interim positions in churches in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France.
In thanksgiving for his efforts to find refuge for Christian clergy being persecuted by dictator Idi Amin in 1971, he was made a Canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Namirembe, Uganda.
Mr. Lowe was instrumental in the founding of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) and became its Executive Director in 1997. VICPP is the largest statewide advocacy voice for the faith community in Virginia and focuses primarily on issues of economic, racial and social justice. Mr. Lowe led the advocacy work of VICPP through 2004.
He was a tireless advocate for criminal justice reform and for the religious rights of incarcerated men and woman of all faiths. He served for many years as a visiting chaplain in state prisons through Grace Inside and he remained active in prison ministry until the time of his death.
Mr. Lowe is survived by his wife Mary Frances, their three children and several grandchildren.
Plans for memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Please keep the Lowe family in your prayers.
