The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, also known as the Episcopal Church in Western Washington, is a

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...

of the Episcopal Church in

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

state west of the

Cascade Range The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, ...

. It is one of 17 dioceses and an area mission that make up Province 8. The diocese started as a missionary district in 1853 and was formally established in 1910. It comprises 25,490 members in 92 congregations. The name of the diocese refers to the region of "Olympia" and is not related to the state capital

Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

. The

see city See or SEE may refer to: * Sight - seeing Arts, entertainment, and media * Music: ** ''See'' (album), studio album by rock band The Rascals *** "See", song by The Rascals, on the album ''See'' ** "See" (Tycho song), song by Tycho * Television * ...

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...

, with St. Mark's, Seattle the cathedral church of the diocese. The diocese is led by the Right Reverend Greg Rickel, the 8th Bishop of Olympia.

Eighth bishop elected

On May 12, 2007, the Rev. Gregory Rickel, 43, rector of St. James' Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas, was elected 8th bishop of Olympia. He was elected on the third ballot with four others on the ballot, including

Nedi Rivera Bavi Edna "Nedi" Rivera (born March 24, 1946) is a bishop of the Episcopal Church who has been a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Olympia and appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon. She was the first Hispanic woman elected to becom ...

, then the diocese's suffragan bishop. Rickel was confirmed by a majority of bishops with jurisdiction (mostly diocesan bishops) and standing committees, his consecration was on September 15, 2007 at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

Previous bishops

These are the bishops who have served the territory now known as the Diocese of Olympia:

Missionary Bishops

Bishops of Oregon and Washington territories

Thomas Fielding Scott Thomas Fielding Scott (March 12, 1807July 14, 1867) was the first missionary Episcopal Bishop of Washington and Oregon territories. Early life Scott was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, the son of James Scott and Rebekkah Worke Scott. ...

(1854–1867) # Benjamin Wistar Morris (1868–1880)

Bishops of Washington state

# John A. Paddock (1880–1894) # William Morris Barker (1894–1901) #

Frederick W. Keator Frederick W. Keator (October 22, 1855 – January 31, 1924) was an American lawyer who became an Episcopal priest and the third missionary bishop of Washington state, which encompassed that portion of Washington State west of the Cascade Range. I ...

(1902–1910)

Diocesan Bishops

(1910–1924) # S. Arthur Huston (1925–1947) # Stephen F. Bayne, Jr. (1947–1960) # William F. Lewis (1960–1964) # Ivol Ira Curtis (1964–1976) # Robert H. Cochrane (1976–1989) # Vincent Waydell Warner, Jr. (1990–2007)
Sanford Zangwill Kaye Hampton (Assisting)
Bavi Edna Rivera, Suffragan Bishop (2006–2009) #

Gregory Rickel Gregory Harold Rickel (born June 27, 1963) is an American Episcopal bishop. From 2007 to 2022, he was the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. He was consecrated on September 15, 2007. Bishop Rickel announced his intent to resign the ...

(2007–present)

Huston Camp and Conference Center

The Diocese owns a summer camp located in Gold Bar, WA next to the Wallace Falls State Park. Director Bill Tubbs for the last 20 years has overseen operation of both the Conference and Summer Camp seasons."Huston Camp and Conference Center Website"
Huston Camp and Conference Center, August 3, 2007

References

External links

Official Web site of the Episcopal ChurchEpiscopal Diocese of Olympia websiteSt. Mark's Episcopal CathedralHuston Camp and Conference Center website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olympia

Christianity in Washington (state) Christian organizations established in 1910 1910 establishments in Washington (state) Province 8 of the Episcopal Church (United States)