Episcopal Diocese of Arizona
The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which has jurisdiction over most of Arizona. It is in Province VIII.
While it was just a missionary district for many decades, it was headed by important clerics. Bishop Ozi William Whitaker later became Bishop of Pennsylvania. Bishop Julius W. Atwood died two days before his old friend, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who Vice-President Harry S Truman expected to attend his funeral. Arthur B. Kinsolving had served as the chaplain at the University of Virginia and West Point, and as Dean of the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York.
Jennifer Anne Reddall is the current bishop. Her seat is at Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix.
In 2024, the diocese reported average Sunday attendance of 5,232 persons and plate and pledge income of $16,108,160.
History
The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona was established by General Convention in 1959, but its history began 100 years before. Here are some important dates:- February 15, 1860: Joseph C. Talbot consecrated at Christ Church, Indianapolis to be Missionary Bishop over the newly organized Northwest jurisdiction, covering nearly, including Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Montana and Idaho.
- 1865: Arizona and Nevada were constituted a Missionary Jurisdiction.
- 1874: Arizona is separated from Nevada and is joined into a Missionary Jurisdiction with New Mexico.
- 1880: The first convention of the Missionary District of New Mexico and Arizona was held at the Exchange Hotel, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- 1881: St. Paul's, the first Episcopal church building in Arizona was erected in Tombstone with help from Endicott Peabody. St. Paul's is the oldest non-Roman Catholic Church in Arizona.
- 1889: Trinity Church in Phoenix was completed and held its first service on the first Sunday in January.
- 1892: Arizona and New Mexico were made separate Missionary Jurisdictions.
- 1897: The Hospital of the Good Shepherd was founded by Miss Thackara among the Navajos at Fort Defiance.
- 1907: St. Luke's Home for tubercular patients was founded in Phoenix.
- August 18, 1931: The Arizona Church Conference Center was bought and paid for with $13,972.85 by Bishop Mitchell.
- 1959: The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona was established by General Convention.