Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

Diocese of the Episcopal Church in northern Illinois

The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Paula Clark, who serves as Bishop of the diocese. The cathedral of the diocese is St. James Cathedral, which is the oldest Episcopal congregation in the city of Chicago. The Diocese of Chicago covers twenty two counties located in the northern third of the state of Illinois, stretching from the shores of Lake Michigan on the east, to the banks of the Mississippi River on the west. Its northern boundary is the state of Wisconsin; the southernmost city is Watseka, Illinois.

The diocese was formed in 1877 from the Diocese of Illinois, which was founded in 1835. Philander Chase, the retired bishop of Ohio, was the first bishop. He was succeeded in 1852 by Henry Whitehouse, previously a priest from New York. The final bishop of Illinois was Edward McClaren, elected in 1875, who continued as bishop of Chicago. When the Diocese of Illinois was split into three in 1877, Chicago maintained the original succession of bishops as its own. Two other dioceses, Quincy and Springfield, elected their own bishops.

The Diocese of Chicago ranks among the twelve largest Episcopal dioceses in the United States, with 137 congregations, of which 36 are missions. However, in parallel with declining national memberships, the Diocese of Chicago has seen a decline in membership: 47,171 baptized members in 1994, but only 42,667 in 1996. The diocese is far more ethnically diverse than the Episcopal Church at large. There are four Hispanic congregations, one of which is located in the near western suburbs of Chicago. In addition, four congregations outside Chicago provide Spanish language services, and two others share their facilities with congregations of the Philippine Independent Church. There is one Korean American congregation, and the diocese also serves eight African American congregations. The 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Right Reverend Frank Tracy Griswold, was bishop of Chicago when he was elected in 1997.

Bishops of Illinois From Until Incumbent Notes 1835 1852 Philander Chase Translated from Ohio. 1852 1874 Henry John Whitehouse Coadjutor since 1851. 1875 1877 William Edward McLaren Called Edward (December 15, 1831, Geneva, NY – February 19, 1905, New York, NY); diocese split; became Bishop of Chicago. Bishops of Chicago 1877 1905 William Edward McLaren Hitherto Bishop of Illinois. 1905 1930 Charles P. Anderson Coadjutor since 1900. 1930 1930 Sheldon Munson Griswold (January 8, 1861, Delhi, NY – November 28, 1930, Evanston, IL); previously missionary bishop of Salina. 1930 1940 George Craig Stewart (August 18, 1879, Saginaw, MI – May 2, 1940, Chicago, IL); coadjutor since 1930. 1941 1953 Wallace E. Conkling 1954 1971 Frank Burrill 1971 1987 James W. Montgomery James Winchester Montgomery (born May 29, 1921); coadjutor since 1965. 1987 1998 Frank T. Griswold Coadjutor since 1985. 1998 1999 Herbert A. Donovan, Jr. Herbert Alcorn "Herb" Donovan, Junior (born July 14, 1931); provisional bishop; retired Bishop of Arkansas. 1999 2008 William D. Persell 2008 2020 Jeffrey D. Lee Jeffrey Dean Lee 2022 Present Paula Clark

Bishops suffragan From Until Incumbent Notes 1911 1915 William Edward Toll, suffragan bishop (died June 28, 1915) 1917 1917 Sheldon Munson Griswold, suffragan bishop 1939 1947 Edwin J. Randall, suffragan bishop Edwin Jarvis Randall (October 24, 1869, Oconomowoc, WI – June 13, 1962, Evanston, IL) 1949 1963 Charles L. Street, suffragan bishop Charles Larrabee Street 1962 1965 James W. Montgomery, suffragan bishop 1972 1984 Quintin E. Primo, Jr., suffragan bishop Quintin Ebenezer Primo, Junior (July 1, 1913, Freedom Grove, GA – January 14, 1998, Hockessin, DE); later interim bishop of Delaware. 1990 1997 William W. Wiedrich, suffragan bishop Called Bill (born August 19, 1931) Assistant bishops 2000 2011 Victor A. Scantlebury, assistant bishop Victor Alfonso Scantlebury (born March 31, 1945, Colón, Panama); previously suffragan in Panama. 2012 2015C. Christopher Epting, assistant bishop(born November 26, 1946); previously bishop of Iowa, Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations