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, DE 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
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 95%;"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" | Bishops over Delaware
|-
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 8%;" | From
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 8%;" | Until
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 28%;" | Incumbent
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 51%;" | Notes
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1787
| style="text-align: center;" | 1828
| William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania
| Resigned Delaware only, retaining Pennsylvania; also Presiding Bishop, 1789 and from 1795.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1828
| style="text-align: center;" | 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.
|-
! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" | Bishops of Delaware
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1841
| style="text-align: center;" | 1887
| Alfred Lee
| Installed October 12, 1841; also Presiding Bishop from 1884; died in office.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1888
| style="text-align: center;" | 1907
| Leighton Coleman
| Installed October 18, 1888; died in office.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1908
| style="text-align: center;" | 1919
| Frederick Joseph Kinsman
| Installed October 28, 1908; resigned October 1919 and became a Roman Catholic.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1920
| style="text-align: center;" | 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.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1939
| style="text-align: center;" | 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.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1955
| style="text-align: center;" | 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.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1968
| style="text-align: center;" | 1974
| William H. Mead
| William Henry Mead (1921 – February 25, 1974); elected June 28, consecrated and installed November 15, 1968; died in office.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1975
| style="text-align: center;" | 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.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" | 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.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1986
| style="text-align: center;" | 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.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1998
| style="text-align: center;" | 2017
| Wayne P. Wright
| Wayne Parker Wright; elected February 28, consecrated June 20 and installed June 21, 1998.
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 2017
| style="text-align: center;" | present
| Kevin S. Brown
| Kevin S. Brown; elected July 15,
|}
Congregations
This list includes all the active congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware and the historical parishes will gradually be added.
Kent County
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Founded
!Name
!address
!town
!Rector
!status
!closed
|-
|1703
|Christ Church, Dover <!-- Christ Church, Dover points here, tagged with -->
|South State and Water Street
|Dover
|Rev. John Tober
|Rector
|
|-
|1704
|Christ Church, Milford <!-- Christ Church, Milford points here, tagged with -->
|200 Church Street
|Milford
|Rev. Harry Hiltner
|Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1889
|St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Bridgeville, Delaware)
|114 Delaware Avenue
|Bridgeville
|vacant
|
|
|-
|1868
|St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Camden <!-- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Camden points here, tagged with -->
|Old North Road at West St.
|Camden
|Rev. Blake Wamester
|Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1740
|St. Peter's Church, Smyrna <!-- a redirect from St. Peter's Church, Smyrna points here, tagged with -->
|22 North Union Street
|Smyrna
| Rev. Donna Jean Kiessling
|Rector
|
|-
|1868
|St. Stephen's Church <!-- a redirect from St. Stephen's Church, Harrington points here, tagged with -->
|190 Raughley Hill Road
|Harrington
| Rev. John Wright
|Priest in charge
|
|}
New Castle County
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Founded
!Name
!address
!town
!Rector
!status
!closed
|-
|1851
|Church of the Ascension <!-- Church of the Ascension (Claymont, Delaware) redirects here, tagged with -->
|3717 Philadelphia Pike
|Claymont
|
|Closed
|
|-
|1855
|Calvary Church, Hillcrest <!-- Calvary Church, Hillcrest redirects here, tagged with -->
|304 Lore Avenue<br>Brandywine Hundred
|Wilmington
|
|Closed
|2024
|-
|1855
|Cathedral Church of St. John <!-- Cathedral Church of St. John, Wilmington redirects here, tagged with -->
|
|
|
|
|2012
|-
|1848
|Christ Church, Christiana Hundred <!-- Christ Church, Christiana Hundred redirects here, tagged with -->
|505 E. Buck Road<br>Christiana Hundred
|Greenville
| Rev. Ruth Lawson Beresford
|Rector
|
|-
|1848
|Christ Church, Delaware City <!-- Christ Church, Delaware City redirects here, tagged with -->
|222 Clinton Street
|Delaware City
|
|
|2022
|-
|1836
|Grace Church, Brandywine Hundred <!-- Grace Church (Wilmington, Delaware) redirects here, tagged with -->
|4900 Concord Pike<br>Brandywine Hundred
|Wilmington
|Rev. Greg Wilson
|Rector
|
|-
|1884
|Immanuel Church, Highlands
|2400 West 17th Street
|Wilmington
|Rev. Wayne Rollins
|Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1689
|Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green
|2nd and Harmony Streets
|New Castle
| Rev. Christopher Paul Keene
|Rector
|
|-
|1952
|Church of the Nativity <!-- Church of the Nativity (Manor Park) redirects here, tagged with -->
|206 Sykes Road, Manor Park
|New Castle
|closed
|2023
|
|-
|1958
|St. Albans Church, Brandywine Hundred <!-- St. Albans Church, Brandywine Hundred redirects here, tagged with -->
|913 Wilson Road<br>Brandywine Hundred
|Wilmington
|
|
|2013
|-
|1829<br>1996
|Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew & Matthew
|719 Shipley Street
|Wilmington
|Rev. Patrick Burke
|Rector
|
|-
|1705
|St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Middletown, Delaware)
|15 E. Green Street
|Middletown
| Rev. Russ Bohner
|Rector
|
|-
|1890
|St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
|2800 Duncan Road<br>Mill Creek Hundred
|Wilmington
|Rev. Jeanie Martinez-Jantz
|Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1954
|St. David’s Episcopal Church<br>Web Site
|2320 Grubb Road<br>Brandywine Hundred
|Wilmington
|Rev. Michael Kurth
|Rector
|
|-
|1714
|St. James Episcopal Church, Mill Creek (Stanton, Delaware)
|2106 St. James Church Road<br>Stanton, Mill Creek Hundred
|Wilmington
|Rev. Ben Rockwell
|Rector
|
|-
|1855
|St. James Church, Newport <!-- St. James' Church, Newport redirects here, tagged with -->
|2 South Augustine Street<br>Newport
|Wilmington
| Rev. Sarah L. J. Nelson
|Rector
|
|-
|1964
|St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church
|10 Old Newark Road<br>White Clay Hundred
|Newark
| Rev. James M. Bimbi
| Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1842
|St. Thomas's Parish
|276 South College Avenue
|Newark
| Rev. Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr.
|Rector
|
|-
|1830
|Trinity Parish
|1108 N. Adams Street (at Delaware Avenue)
|Wilmington
| Open
|
|
|-
|1791
|Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes)
|606 Church Street
|Wilmington
|Open
|
|}
Sussex County
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Founded
!Name
!address
!town
!Rector
!status
!closed
|-
|1886
|All Saints' Church, Delmar <!-- All Saints' Church, Delmar points here, tagged with -->
|Tenth and Grove Streets
|Delmar
| vacant
|closed
|-
|1892
|All Saints' Church <!-- All Saints' Church, Rehoboth Beach points here, tagged with -->
|18 Olive Avenue
|Rehoboth Beach
| Rev. Shelley McDade
|Rector
|
|-
|1771
|Old Christ Church (Laurel, Delaware)
|Broad Creek
|Laurel
|Rev. Dr. Jack Anderson
|Rector
|-
|1794
|St. George's Chapel, Lewes
|Beaver Dam Road<br>Indian River Hundred
|Angola
|Rev. Shelley McDade
|Rector
|
|-
|1728
|The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist<!-- St. John the Baptist, Milton points here, tagged with -->
|307 Federal Street
|Milton
|Rev. Thomas M. White
|Rector
|
|-
|1835
|St. Luke's Church <!-- St. Luke's Church, Seaford points here, tagged with -->
|202 North Street
|Seaford
|vacant
|Pastor
|
|-
|1848
|St. Mark's Church <!-- St. Mark's Church, Millsboro points here, tagged with -->
|State and Ellis Streets
|Millsboro
|Rev. Ted Olson
|Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1940
|St. Martha's Episcopal Church <!-- St. Martha's Church, Bethany Beach points here, tagged with -->
|Maplewood & Pennsylvania Avenue
|Bethany Beach
|Rev. Victoria Pretti
|Rector
|
|-
|1947
|St. Martin's in the Field Church
|75 West Church Street
|Selbyville
| Rev. Glenn A. Duffy
|Priest-in-Charge
|
|-
|1868
| St. Paul's Episcopal Church
|Pine and Academy Streets
|Georgetown
|vacant
|
|
|-
|1708
|St. Peter's Episcopal Church<!-- a redirect from St. Peter's Church, Lewes points here, tagged with -->
|Second and Market Streets
|Lewes
| Rev. Jeffrey A. Ross
|Rector
|
|-
|1834
|St. Philip's Episcopal Church
|600 South Central Avenue
|Laurel
|Rev. Jack Anderson
|Rector
|
|}
References
- The Episcopal Church Diocese of Delaware (2005) [Annual Report]
;Specific