Fr. Frederick J. Hopwood

Ordained in 1951 at Maryknoll Seminary for the Foreign Missions; sent to Peru. By 1952 Hopwood was in the Diocese of Charleston, SC, assigned as assistant chancellor. He also taught at Bishop England High School and was chaplain for the Citadel. He eventually became rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and was elevated to monsignor. In 1984 he was assigned as pastor of a Greenville parish about the time the Diocese reportedly learned of an allegation. Hopwood resigned in 12/1993 after allegations became public. At least 10 men alleged sexual abuse by Hopwood. Criminal charges were filed in 1994. Hopwood leaded guilty 3/21/1994 to a lewd act on a minor for abuse of a St. John the Baptist Cathedral altar boy in 1970. He was sentenced to three years probation, treatment and 250 hours of public service. He died 4/30/2017. Included on the Diocese’s 3/29/2019 list of credibly accused. A lawsuit filed in 1/2021 claims sexual abuse of a boy for two years in the mid-1970s, beginning when the boy was age 13 and a St. John’s Church and Cathedral School student.