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Episcopal Diocese of Chicago facts for kids

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Diocese of Chicago
Diœcesis Chicagoensis
Diocese of Chicago seal.jpg
Location
Country United States
Ecclesiastical province Province V
Subdivisions 11 deaneries
Statistics
Congregations 121 (2020)
Members 30,699 (2020)
Information
Denomination Episcopal Church
Established March 9, 1835 (As Diocese of Illinois)
May 28, 1884 (As Diocese of Chicago)
Cathedral St. James Cathedral
Language English, Spanish
Current leadership
Bishop Paula Clark
Map
Location of the Diocese of Chicago
Location of the Diocese of Chicago
Website
episcopalchicago.org
Gerald Farinas Chicago Cathedral of Saint James from North
St. James Cathedral, the main church of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is a religious organization. It is part of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, United States. This diocese is led by Bishop Paula Clark. She is the first woman and the first African-American to hold this important role. The main church of the diocese is St. James Cathedral. It is the oldest Episcopal church in Chicago.

The Diocese of Chicago covers 22 counties. These counties are in the northern part of Illinois. They stretch from Lake Michigan in the east to the Mississippi River in the west. To the north, it borders Wisconsin. The southernmost town in the diocese is Watseka, Illinois.

History of the Diocese

How the Diocese Began

The diocese started in 1835. It was first known as the Episcopal Diocese of Illinois. Philander Chase was its first bishop. He had previously been a bishop in Ohio. In 1852, Henry John Whitehouse took over as bishop. He was a priest from New York.

Becoming the Diocese of Chicago

In 1875, William Edward McLaren became bishop. In 1877, the Diocese of Illinois was divided into three parts. Two new dioceses were formed: Quincy and Springfield. Bishop McLaren's diocese was then renamed the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.

The Diocese Today

Size and Diversity

The Diocese of Chicago is one of the 12 largest Episcopal dioceses in the United States. It has 137 churches. However, like many churches, it has seen a decrease in members over the years. For example, in 1994, it had over 47,000 members. By 2020, it had about 30,000 members.

The diocese is very diverse. It has several churches that offer services in Spanish. Some churches also share their buildings with congregations from the Philippine Independent Church. There is also a Korean American church. The diocese serves eight African-American churches as well. They continue to help different communities, like at the Cathedral Shelter of Chicago.

Recent Leadership

Frank Griswold was a bishop of Chicago. He later became the 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in 1997.

Bishop Jeffrey Lee led the diocese from 2008 until 2020. In December 2020, Paula Clark was chosen as the next bishop. She is the thirteenth bishop of Chicago. Bishop Clark had some health issues, which delayed her start. But she got better and officially became bishop on September 17, 2022.

Reuniting with Quincy

In 2008, many members from the nearby Episcopal Diocese of Quincy left. They formed a new group. The remaining Episcopalians in Quincy decided to rebuild their diocese. In 2012, leaders from Quincy talked to the Chicago diocese about joining together. They realized that the Quincy diocese was too small to continue on its own.

In November 2012, the Chicago diocese agreed to work towards reunification. On June 8, 2013, both dioceses voted to merge. This merger was approved by other bishops and church committees. On September 1, 2013, the Diocese of Quincy officially became part of the Diocese of Chicago. It is now known as the Peoria Deanery.

Bishops of Illinois and Chicago

Bishops of Illinois
From Until Bishop's Name Notes
1835 1852 Philander Chase Moved from Ohio.
1852 1874 Henry John Whitehouse Was a helper bishop since 1851.
1875 1877 William Edward McLaren The diocese split; he became the Bishop of Chicago.
Bishops of Chicago
1877 1905 William Edward McLaren Was previously the Bishop of Illinois.
1905 1930 Charles P. Anderson Was a helper bishop since 1900.
1930 1930 Sheldon Munson Griswold Previously a missionary bishop.
1930 1940 George Craig Stewart Was a helper bishop since 1930.
1941 1953 Wallace E. Conkling
1954 1971 Frank Burrill
1971 1987 James W. Montgomery Was a helper bishop since 1965.
1987 1998 Frank T. Griswold Was a helper bishop since 1985.
1998 1999 Herbert A. Donovan, Jr. A temporary bishop; retired from Arkansas.
1999 2008 William D. Persell
2008 2020 Jeffrey D. Lee
2022 Present Paula Clark

Other Bishops in the Diocese

Helper Bishops (Suffragan Bishops)

Helper Bishops
From Until Bishop's Name Notes
1911 1915 William Edward Toll, helper bishop
1917 1917 Sheldon Munson Griswold, helper bishop
1939 1947 Edwin J. Randall, helper bishop
1949 1963 Charles L. Street, helper bishop
1962 1965 James W. Montgomery, helper bishop
1972 1984 Quintin E. Primo, Jr., helper bishop Later a temporary bishop in Delaware.
1990 1997 William W. Wiedrich, helper bishop

Assistant Bishops

Assistant Bishops
2000 2011 Victor A. Scantlebury, assistant bishop Previously a helper bishop in Panama.
2012 2015 C. Christopher Epting, assistant bishop Previously bishop of Iowa.

Areas within the Diocese (Deaneries)

The Diocese of Chicago is divided into smaller areas called deaneries. Each deanery helps organize the churches in its region.

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