V. Earle Copes

COPES, Vicar Earle. b. Norfolk, Virginia, 12 August 1921; d. Sarasota, Florida, 20 July 2014. Copes was a distinguished composer, teacher, performer, editor, and elder in the United Methodist Church, an important force in the development of Methodist’s professional standards, a champion of Wesleyan and ecumenical hymnody, and leader in the expansion of church music repertory, styles, and performance practices. He was educated at Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina (BA, 1942), and Union Theological Seminary, New York, (MSM, 1944, BD, 1945). He served as minister of music at Highland Park Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas (1946-49), teaching fellow The University of Texas, Austin, Texas...