Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis is a diocese in Province V (for the Midwest region) of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It encompasses the southern two-thirds of the state of Indiana.

The see is in Indianapolis, Indiana at Christ Church Cathedral. According to the diocesan newsletter, the diocese has 10,137 communicants in 49 parishes. The bishop of the diocese is the Rt. Rev. Catherine Maples Waynick, one of the few female Anglican bishops in the world.

History

Like many Midwestern dioceses, the history of the Diocese of Indianapolis goes back to the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper as Missionary Bishop of the Northwest in 1835. At the time, Indiana was a wilderness and the first Anglican meetings were often held in remote Methodist and Presbyterian churches, as well as courthouses, stores, schoolhouses and private homes. Bishop Kemper founded several Indiana churches, the oldest one still standing being Saint John's Church, Crawfordsville. The Episcopal Diocese of Indiana was formed in 1849 with the consecration of the Rt. Rev. George Upfold as bishop of Indiana. The first cathedral was Saint John's Church, Lafayette, because it was the only parish with a parsonage at the time. However, Bishop Upfold moved the episcopal residence to Indianapolis after only a few years, and Saint Paul's Church, Grace Church, and All Saints' Church would variously serve as the cathedral before it was moved to the present Christ Church. In 1898 the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana was divided into the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis covering the southern two-thirds of the state, and the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana covering the northern one-third.

Resources

* Lilly, Eli, "History of the Little Church on the Circle, Christ Church Parish, Indianapolis, 1837-1955" Indianapolis: Rector, Wardens, etc. of Christ Episcopal Church, 1957.
* Harvey, Jane C. "History of Saint John's Church 1837-1887." from the website of St. John's Church, Lafayette.

External links

* [http://www.indydio.org// Diocese of Indianapolis website]

Parishes in the Diocese

* [http://www.cccindy.org//// Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis]
* [http://www.goodshep.org/// Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Purdue University]
* [http://www.stjohns-laf.org/// Saint John's, Lafayette]
* [http://www.stjohnsofbedford.org/// Saint John's, Bedford]