Diocesan Dates of Formation

A diocese of the Episcopal Church may be formed in several ways. Some were established at the beginning of the Episcopal Church, often following state boundaries. Others emerged from Missionary Districts, meeting criteria set by the General Convention. Some came into being through division of an existing diocese, while others were created by the combination of two or more dioceses.

A diocese may come to an end in several ways. It may merge with another diocese, reunite with that which it originally divided, or in rare cases, become an independent church (for example, the Diocese of Mexico).

Each diocese carries a unique story of formation, growth, and—in some cases—conclusion. Many stories are preserved in diocesan histories. All are encouraged to explore whether your diocese has a published diocesan history and to delve into it as a way of discovering how faith has been lived out in your local context.

For further study, download “Bibliography of Diocesan Histories” by John M. Kinney from a 1974 issue of The Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

The following table lists formation dates of each diocese in the Episcopal Church, with ending dates where applicable. The Province number (as of 2025) is provided for reference.