
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 30, 1993                   TAG: 9304300320
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

EPISCOPAL BISHOP TREATED FOR ALCOHOLISM

The head of the 35,000-member Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia on Thursday entered a Hampton rehabilitation center for treatment of alcoholism, diocese officials said.

Bishop Frank H. Vest Jr., 57, a Salem native who led churches in Roanoke and Radford, has been the diocese's leader since 1991.

The diocese said Vest was confronted by fellow clergy last week about concerns over his drinking. It said Vest voluntarily admitted himself to the rehabilitation center.

Vest was assistant rector at St. John's Church in Roanoke from 1962 to 1964 and rector of Grace Church of Radford from 1964 to 1968. From then until 1974, he was rector at Christ Church of Roanoke.

by CNB