The Episcopal Church in Delaware, formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, is one of 108 dioceses making up the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It consists of 33 congregations or parishes in an area the same as the State of Delaware. The diocese is led by a bishop and staff and provides episcopal supervision and some administrative assistance for its parishes.
The current bishop, the eleventh Bishop of Delaware, is Kevin Scott Brown, who was consecrated bishop December 9, 2017, and succeeded Wayne P. Wright upon the latter's retirement. The diocesan offices were located for many years at the campus of the Cathedral Church of Saint John, in Wilmington, Delaware. When the cathedral closed in 2012, the offices moved in 2014 to 913 Wilson Road, Wilmington, the site of the former Saint Alban's Church.
The diocese reported 9,544 members in 2016 and 6,913 members in 2023; no membership statistics were reported in 2024 parochial reports. Plate and pledge income for the 31 filing congregations of the diocese in 2024 was $7,501,600. Average Sunday attendance (ASA) was 2,414 persons.
History The Episcopal Church in Delaware, formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, dates its foundation to 1785, the first time a delegation was sent representing the diocese to the General Convention. Charles Wharton presided over the first state convention on September 26, 1786, at which it was decided to form a wholly separate diocese from that of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania or the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, but under the episcopal supervision of the Bishop of Pennsylvania. It is one of the nine original Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
List of bishops Bishops over Delaware From Until Incumbent Notes 1787 1828 William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania Resigned Delaware only, retaining Pennsylvania; also Presiding Bishop, 1789 and from 1795. 1828 1841 Henry U. Onderdonk, Provisional Bishop of Delaware Also coadjutor bishop of Pennsylvania until 1836; also Bishop of Pennsylvania from 1836; resigned Delaware only, retaining Pennsylvania. Bishops of Delaware 1841 1887 Alfred Lee Installed October 12, 1841; also Presiding Bishop from 1884; died in office. 1888 1907 Leighton Coleman Installed October 18, 1888; died in office. 1908 1919 Frederick Joseph Kinsman Installed October 28, 1908; resigned October 1919 and became a Roman Catholic. 1920 1938 Philip Cook (July 4, 1875, Kansas City, MO – March 25, 1938, Wilmington, DE); elected May 12 and consecrated October 14, 1920; died in office. 1939 1954 Arthur R. McKinstry Arthur Raymond McKinstry (1894, Greeley, KS – December 25, 1991, Wilmington, DE); elected November 15, 1938 and consecrated February 17, 1939; retired December 31, 1954. 1955 1968 J. Brooke Mosley John Brooke Mosley (called Brooke; October 18, 1915, Philadelphia, PA – March 4, 1988, New York, NY); elected coadjutor June 29 and consecrated October 28, 1953; installed as diocesan January 16, 1955; resigned October 1, 1968. 1968 1974 William H. Mead William Henry Mead (1921 – February 25, 1974); elected June 28, consecrated and installed November 15, 1968; died in office. 1975 1985 William Hawley Clark William Hawley Clark (May 10, 1919 – March 7, 1997); elected January 24, consecrated May 16 and installed May 18, 1975; retired December 31, 1985. 1986 Quintin E. Primo, Jr., interim bishop Quintin Ebenezer Primo, Junior (July 1, 1913, Freedom Grove, GA – January 14, 1998, Hockessin, DE); previously suffragan bishop of Chicago; interim bishop only, January 1 – November 8, 1986. 1986 1997 Cabell Tennis Calvin Cabell Tennis (born October 24, 1932); elected June 14, consecrated November 8 and installed November 9, 1986; retired December 31, 1997; later assistant bishop in Spokane. 1998 2017 Wayne P. Wright Wayne Parker Wright; elected February 28, consecrated June 20 and installed June 21, 1998. 2017 present Kevin S. Brown Kevin S. Brown; elected July 15, consecrated and installed December 9, 2017.
Congregations This list includes all the active congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware and the historical parishes will gradually be added.
Kent County FoundedNameaddresstownRectorstatusclosed1703Christ Church, Dover South State and Water StreetDoverRev. John ToberRector1704Christ Church, Milford 200 Church StreetMilfordRev. Harry HiltnerPriest-in-Charge1889St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Bridgeville, Delaware)114 Delaware AvenueBridgevillevacant1868St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Camden Old North Road at West St.CamdenRev. Blake WamesterPriest-in-Charge1740St. Peter's Church, Smyrna 22 North Union StreetSmyrna Rev. Donna Jean KiesslingRector1868St. Stephen's Church 190 Raughley Hill RoadHarrington Rev. John WrightPriest in charge
New Castle County FoundedNameaddresstownRectorstatusclosed1851Church of the Ascension 3717 Philadelphia PikeClaymontClosed1855Calvary Church, Hillcrest 304 Lore AvenueBrandywine HundredWilmingtonClosed20241855Cathedral Church of St. John 20121848Christ Church, Christiana Hundred 505 E. Buck RoadChristiana HundredGreenville Rev. Ruth Lawson BeresfordRector1848Christ Church, Delaware City 222 Clinton StreetDelaware City20221836Grace Church, Brandywine Hundred 4900 Concord PikeBrandywine HundredWilmingtonRev. Greg WilsonRector1884Immanuel Church, Highlands2400 West 17th StreetWilmingtonRev. Wayne RollinsPriest-in-Charge1689Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green2nd and Harmony StreetsNew Castle Rev. Christopher Paul KeeneRector1952Church of the Nativity 206 Sykes Road, Manor ParkNew Castleclosed20231958St. Albans Church, Brandywine Hundred 913 Wilson RoadBrandywine HundredWilmington201318291996Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew & Matthew719 Shipley StreetWilmingtonRev. Patrick BurkeRector1705St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Middletown, Delaware)15 E. Green StreetMiddletown Rev. Russ BohnerRector1890St. Barnabas Episcopal Church2800 Duncan RoadMill Creek HundredWilmingtonRev. Jeanie Martinez-JantzPriest-in-Charge1954St. David’s Episcopal ChurchWeb Site2320 Grubb RoadBrandywine HundredWilmingtonRev. Michael KurthRector1714St. James Episcopal Church, Mill Creek (Stanton, Delaware)2106 St. James Church RoadStanton, Mill Creek HundredWilmingtonRev. Ben RockwellRector1855St. James Church, Newport 2 South Augustine StreetNewportWilmington Rev. Sarah L. J. NelsonRector1964St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church10 Old Newark RoadWhite Clay HundredNewark Rev. James M. Bimbi Priest-in-Charge1842St. Thomas's Parish276 South College AvenueNewark Rev. Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr.Rector1830Trinity Parish1108 N. Adams Street (at Delaware Avenue)Wilmington Open1791Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes)606 Church StreetWilmingtonOpen
Sussex County FoundedNameaddresstownRectorstatusclosed1886All Saints' Church, Delmar Tenth and Grove StreetsDelmar vacantclosed1892All Saints' Church 18 Olive AvenueRehoboth Beach Rev. Shelley McDadeRector1771Old Christ Church (Laurel, Delaware)Broad CreekLaurelRev. Dr. Jack AndersonRector1794St. George's Chapel, LewesBeaver Dam RoadIndian River HundredAngolaRev. Shelley McDadeRector1728The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist307 Federal StreetMiltonRev. Thomas M. WhiteRector1835St. Luke's Church 202 North StreetSeafordvacantPastor1848St. Mark's Church State and Ellis StreetsMillsboroRev. Ted OlsonPriest-in-Charge1940St. Martha's Episcopal Church Maplewood & Pennsylvania AvenueBethany BeachRev. Victoria PrettiRector1947St. Martin's in the Field Church75 West Church StreetSelbyville Rev. Glenn A. DuffyPriest-in-Charge1868 St. Paul's Episcopal ChurchPine and Academy StreetsGeorgetownvacant1708St. Peter's Episcopal ChurchSecond and Market StreetsLewes Rev. Jeffrey A. RossRector1834St. Philip's Episcopal Church600 South Central AvenueLaurelRev. Jack AndersonRector
References The Episcopal Church Diocese of Delaware (2005) [Annual Report]
Specific
External links The Episcopal Church in Delaware Journal of the Annual Convention, Diocese of Delaware