The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island 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 the United States of America The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop o ...

, encompassing the state of

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

. It is one of seven

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

dioceses that make up Province 1. The former Episcopal seat of the diocese, the Cathedral of St. John is at 271 North Main Street in the

see 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 * ...

city of

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

. It has subsequently been closed. There are 51 parishes in the diocese, with 14,678 members and 10,644 communicants. The bishop is the Right Reverend W. Nicholas Knisely, the thirteenth office holder.

History

The diocese was founded in 1790 by two clergy and five members of the laity, representatives of the four charter churches of the diocese, King's Church in Providence (1722), Trinity Church in Newport (1698), St. Paul's in

North Kingstown North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilbe ...

(1707), and St. Michael's in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

(1720). Without sufficient resources to support a bishop of their own, they elected

Samuel Seabury Samuel Seabury (November 30, 1729February 25, 1796) was the first American Episcopal bishop, the second Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and the first Bishop of Connecticut. He was a leading Loyalist ...

, who was bishop of

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

, to hold the office of bishop of Rhode Island as well. Under Rhode Island's third bishop,

Alexander Viets Griswold Alexander Viets Griswold (April 22, 1766 – February 15, 1843) was the 5th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States from 1836 until 1843. He was also the Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, which included all of New Englan ...

, the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island expanded from 200 communicants in four parishes to almost 2,000 in seventeen parishes. This growth continued under the next two bishops,

John P. K. Henshaw John Prentiss Kewley Henshaw (June 13, 1792 – July 20, 1852) was the fourth Bishop of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and the first to hold that position alone. Early life Henshaw was born in Middletown, ...

and Thomas M. Clark, and this trend was supported by the immigration of many

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

Anglicans. By the end of the 19th century, the diocese had grown to 35 parishes. In the first part of the 20th century, the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island focused on

urban ministry Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...

with a focus on social concerns, led by Bishop William N. McVickar. The first deaconess was ordained in 1890, and from 1910 to 1914 the number of women serving in this position and ordained by Bishop James D. Perry had grown from one to seven. Under Perry and his successor, Gaylord G. Bennett, the number of parishes continued to grow. From 1955 to 1972, the diocese was led by

John Seville Higgins John Seville Higgins (April 14, 1904 - December 28, 1992) was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, serving from 1953 to 1954 as coadjutor and from 1955 to 1972 as diocesan. Biography Higgins was born on April 14, 1904, in London, Engla ...

, who started campus ministries and a number of other missions. Bishop Frederick H. Belden led the church through the transitions occasioned by the ordination of women to the priesthood, ordaining Jo-Ann J. Drake to the transitional diaconate in 1977 and to the priesthood in 1978, ( Patrica A. Smith, ordained deacon by Bishop Belden in 1976, continued her studies for the priesthood and was ordained in 1980) and adoption of the 1979

Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...

. Belden was succeeded by George Hunt, who served as bishop from 1980 to 1994. Hunt led a crusade for accountability by the state government on the issues of corruption,

organized crime Organized crime (or organised crime) is a category of transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally th ...

and gambling. He also insisted that the process for ordination in the diocese not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. In 1996, Geralyn Wolf was consecrated, becoming one of the few women serving as a diocesan bishop. There are a few parishes with a sizable percentage of African-American parishioners, and some congregations that have become the spiritual homes for people who have fled the civil war in Liberia. There is an active Spanish speaking congregation in

Central Falls Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,583 at the 2020 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 27th most densely ...

and another in Cranston. Most congregations make a point of openly welcoming gay and lesbian members.

Bishops of Rhode Island

These are the bishops who have served the Diocese of Rhode Island:''The Episcopal Church Annual''. Morehouse Publishing: New York, NY (2005) #

(1790–1796) #

Edward Bass Edward Bass (November 23, 1726 in Dorchester, Massachusetts – September 10, 1803 in Newburyport, Massachusetts) was the first American Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts and second bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island. Biog ...

(1798–1803) #

(1811–1843) #

(1843–1852) # Thomas March Clark (1854–1903)
* William N. McVickar,

Coadjutor Bishop A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co ...

(1898–1903) # William N. McVickar (1903–1910) #

James DeWolf Perry James DeWolf Perry (October 3, 1871 – March 20, 1947) was an American Episcopal clergyman and prelate. He was the 7th Bishop of Rhode Island (1911–1946) and the 18th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (1930–1937). Biography The ...

(1911–1946)
*

Granville G. Bennett Granville Gaylord Bennett (October 9, 1833 – June 28, 1910) was an American lawyer who served as a justice of the Supreme Court for the Dakota Territory and as a delegate to the United States House of Representatives. Biography Granville was b ...

Suffragan Bishop A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...

(elected 1939) #

(1946–1954)
* John S. Higgins,

(1953–1955) #

(1955–1972)
* Frederick H. Belden,

(1971–1972) # Frederick H. Belden (1972–1979) # George N. Hunt, III (1980–1994) # Geralyn Wolf (1996–2012) # W. Nicholas Knisely (2012–present)

Churches of Rhode Island

Bristol County

St. John's Episcopal Church
Barrington * St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Barrington
St. Michael's Episcopal Church

*St. Mark's Episcopal Church,

Warren A warren is a network of wild rodent or lagomorph, typically rabbit burrows. Domestic warrens are artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. The term evolved from the medieval A ...

- closed May 2010

Kent County

*Church of St. Andrew and St. Philip,

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...

St. Francis Episcopal Church
Coventry
St. Matthias's Episcopal Church
Coventry
St. Luke's Episcopal Church

East Greenwich East Greenwich is a town and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island. The population was 14,312 at the 2020 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island. It is part of the Providence metropolitan st ...

St. Mark's

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and Whi ...

*St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Warwick
All Saints' Episcopal Church
Warwick

Warwick

Newport County

St. Matthew's Parish
Jamestown *St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea,

Compton Compton may refer to: Places Canada * Compton (electoral district), a former Quebec federal electoral district * Compton (provincial electoral district), a former Quebec provincial electoral district now part of Mégantic-Compton * Compton, Que ...

Church of the Holy Cross (Middletown, Rhode Island) The Church of the Holy Cross in Middletown, Rhode Island, is a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island of The Episcopal Church. The church is located at 1439 West Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. It is an early example of Rich ...

* St. Columba's Chapel (Middletown, Rhode Island)
homepage
* St. George's School, Middletown *

Emmanuel Church (Newport, Rhode Island) Emmanuel Church is an historic Episcopal church at 42 Dearborn Street in Newport, Rhode Island. The church began as a mission of Newport's Trinity Church in 1841. In 1852, it was admitted into the diocese as Emmanuel Free Church in its own ri ...

homepage
*St. George's Episcopal Church, Newport - closed circa 2010 *

Trinity Church (Newport, Rhode Island) Trinity Church, on Queen Anne Square in Newport, Rhode Island, is a historic parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. Founded in 1698, it is the oldest Episcopal parish in the state. In the mid 18th century, the church was home to ...

homepageZabriskie Memorial Church of St. John the Evangelist Church
Newport
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

St. Paul's
Portsmouth *Holy Trinity Church, Tiverton

Providence County

*St. George's Episcopal Church,

St. David's on-the-Hill Episcopal Church
Cranston
Church of the Transfiguration

Edgewood Edgewood may refer to: Places Canada *Edgewood, British Columbia South Africa *Edgewood, a University of KwaZulu-Natal campus in Pinetown, South Africa United States Cities and towns *Edgewood, California *Edgewood, Florida *Edgewood, Illinois, a ...

Church of the Ascension
Cranston
Trinity Church
Cranston * Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Cumberland
homepageSt. John's Episcopal Church
Ashton (Cumberland)
Church of Epiphany
East Providence * St. Mary's Episcopal Church, East Providence * St. Thomas, Greenville
Christ Church

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincol ...

*St. James,

North Providence North Providence is a New England town, town in Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 34,114 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. Geography According to the United States C ...

St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Centerdale (North Providence)
Trinity Episcopal Church
North Scituate
Calvary Episcopal Church
Pascoag *St. Luke's, Pawtucket *Church of the Advent, Pawtucket *Good Shepherd, Pawtucket * St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Pawtucke
homepage
*St. Martin's, Pawtucket * All Saints' Memorial Church, Providence * St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Providenc
homepage
*

Grace Church (Providence, Rhode Island) Grace Church is an historic Episcopal church at 300 Westminster Street at Mathewson Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It was built in 1845-46 and was designed by Richard Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style. The church was added to ...

* S. Stephen's Church, Providenc
homepage
*Cathedral of St. John, Providence (closed)
Church of the Redeemer
Providence *Church of the Messiah, Providence (closed) *St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church, Providenc
homepage
*St. Mark's,

Riverside Riverside may refer to: Places Australia * Riverside, Tasmania, a suburb of Launceston, Tasmania Canada * Riverside (electoral district), in the Yukon * Riverside, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Alberta * Riverside, Manitoba, a former rural m ...

*St. Michael & Grace, Rumford *St. James's,

Woonsocket Woonsocket ( ), is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,240 at the 2020 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Being Rhode Island's northernmost city, Woonsocket lies directly south of ...

Washington County

St. Ann's by-the Sea Episcopal Church

Block island Block Island is an island in the U.S. state of Rhode Island located in Block Island Sound approximately south of the mainland and east of Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. It is part of Washingt ...

*Church of the Holy Spirit, Charlestown
Saint Elizabeth's
Hope Valley (Hopkinton)
St. Augustine's Episcopal Church
Kingston
St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church
Narragansett
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Wickford
North Kingstown *Chapel of St. John the Divine, Sauderstown
Church of the Ascension

Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 99,251 in the 2011 census.https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew Census 2011 table KS101EW Usual resident population, ...

Christ Church
Westerly *St. Thomas's, Alton (Wood River Junction)

Notes

External links

Official Web site of the Diocese of Rhode IslandOfficial Web site of the Episcopal Church
*
Journal of the Annual Convention, Diocese of Rhode Island
' at the

Online Books Page The Online Books Page is an index of e-text books available on the Internet. It is edited by John Mark Ockerbloom and is hosted by the library of the University of Pennsylvania. The Online Books Page lists over 2 million books and has several feat ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhode Island

Episcopal churches in Rhode Island Episcopal Church in Rhode Island Religious organizations established in 1790 Anglican dioceses established in the 18th century Province 1 of the Episcopal Church (United States)