A Profile of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield
The origins of the formation of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield began in March 1835, when the Diocese of Illinois was formed with the Right Reverend Philander Chase, the retired Bishop of Ohio chosen as the first Bishop. At that time the Episcopal Diocese of Illinois was the entire State of Illinois.
At the Convention of 1876, preparations were put in place to divide the State into three dioceses. In 1877, the original diocese of Illinois was divided into three geographical areas: the northern area (the Diocese of Chicago), the western area (the Diocese of Quincy) and the central and southern areas being the Diocese of Springfield. The first bishop of Springfield was the Right Reverend George Franklin Seymour who at the time of his election was Dean of General Theological Seminary, New York. The diocese is geographically the largest of the three dioceses in Illinois, comprising sixty (60) counties. It is bound on the east by the Indiana border, on the west by the Illinois River and Missouri border, on the north by Interstate 74 and in the southeast by the Kentucky border. It is called the Diocese of the Four Rivers in which the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio and Wabash rivers all pass through the diocese.
The Diocesan Center where the central affairs of the Diocese are housed is located immediately adjacent to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Springfield, the capital of the State of Illinois. The Right Reverend Albert Arthur Chambers, the 7th Bishop of Springfield, dedicated it on December 16, 1966. The Center, which is circular in design, holds the offices of the Bishop, Archdeacon, Diocesan Administrator and the other administrative staff.
The oldest parish in the Diocese is Trinity Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, founded in 1832. St. Paul's, Springfield, was founded by Bishop Chase in 1835, and although was referred to as the pro-cathedral of the Diocese for many years, it was not officially designated as the Episcopal Cathedral of the Diocese until 1948.
The Bishop of Springfield is the Ecclesiastical Authority in the Diocese and has spiritual oversight of the 36 congregations. He is assisted by the Archdeacon, the Diocesan Administrator and other staff. The Division of Administration and Finance, and the Division of Mission and Worship are divided into several departments representing the format for administration and ministry.
The Diocesan Synod (Convention)
The legislative body of the diocese is called the Diocesan Synod. It meets annually during the month of October and is presided over by the Bishop who is President of the Synod. The Synod is comprised of all members of the clergy who are canonically resident in the diocese and lay delegates elected by the parishes or nominated by the missions and appointed by the Bishop. Each year the Diocesan Synod elects officers, receives reports from the various diocesan departments, commissions, committees, and organizations, debates and votes on resolutions and legislation and adopts the budget for the coming year. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated at each session of Synod.
Our commitment to social concerns and community service is expressed through the work of the Department of Christian Social Concerns which includes diocesan commissions on anti-racism and chemical dependency.
Clergy
There are 4 bishops and 78 clergy who are canonically resident in the diocese. This means that they serve under the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese although some may not be physically residing in the diocese.
CongregationsThe diocese is comprised of 6 geographical areas called Deaneries, each headed by a Dean. There are 36 congregations of which 18 are parishes (self-supporting churches) and the other 18 are non self-supporting (missions). There are currently congregations in Albion, Alton, Belleville, Bloomington, Cairo, Carbondale, Carlinville, Centralia, Champaign, Chesterfield, Danville, Decatur, Edwardsville, Effingham, Glen Carbon, Granite City, Harrisburg, Havana, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Marion, Mattoon, Morton, Mt. Carmel, Mt. Vernon, Normal, O'Fallon, Pekin, Rantoul, Robinson, Salem, Springfield, and West Frankfort.