Episcopal Diocese of Chicago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diocese of ChicagoDiœcesis Chicagoensis |
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| 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 |
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| Website | |
| episcopalchicago.org | |
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.
Contents
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.
