Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

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.

History
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.

Present day
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.

List of Deaneries

 * Aurora Deanery
 * Chicago-North Deanery
 * Chicago-South Deanery
 * Chicago-West Deanery
 * Elgin Deanery
 * Evanston Deanery
 * Joliet Deanery
 * Kankakee Deanery
 * Oak Park Deanery
 * Rockford Deanery
 * Waukegan Deanery