The Diocese of Virginia

About the Diocese of Virginia

The Diocese of Virginia includes 173 or so congregations in an area defined on the north by the Potomac River, on the south by the James River (which flows through the City of Richmond), on the east by the Chesapeake Bay, and on the west by the West Virginia border.

Our diocese is one of the oldest in the Episcopal Church in the United States. It was founded as a diocese in 1785. However, as a part of the Anglican Church of England, our life as the church in Virginia began in 1607, so the Diocese of Virginia will celebrate in 2007 the 400^th anniversary of being the church in Virginia. 

The Diocese of Virginia represents more than 81,000 baptized members and almost 400 clergy. In terms of number of communicants the Diocese of Virginia is now the largest of dioceses in the Episcopal Church. In terms of its geographic size, the Diocese of Virginia ranks second.

Other Dioceses in Virginia

The Diocese of Southern Virginia includes 123 or so congregations and about 37,000 communicants in 26 counties of the Commonwealth of Virginia, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean more than 200 miles westward to Danville, and from the south side of the James River at Richmond to the North Carolina border. Its present size and shape dates from 1892, when it was carved out of the Diocese of Virginia, and from 1919 when the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia was formed from its western counties. The Rt. Rev. David C. Bane, Jr. is the 9^th Bishop of Southern Virginia.

The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia is located in the Appalachian Mountains and is made up of 60 active parishes. Roughly one-third of the baptized membership is affiliated with the four largest congregations. In 1892, economic development of this part of the Commonwealth of Virginia led to establishment of the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Geographically, the diocese contains two-thirds of the state, from Norfolk 400 miles west to Big Stone Gap. The Bishop of Southwestern Virginia is the Rt. Rev. Frank Neff Powell.

Our Diocesan Headquarters

The diocesan headquarters are located at the Mayo Memorial Church House in Richmond. There also is a diocesan office at Goodwin House, an Episcopal retirement community in Alexandria.

Our Cathedral

The cathedral seat of the Bishop of Virginia is the Shrine of the Transfiguration, the outdoor church on the grounds of Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, one of two conference centers of the diocese. (The other conference center is the Roslyn Diocesan Center, located in Richmond.)  This open-air cathedral helps us focus on the wonder of creation and “God provides the roof.”

Our diocesan newspaper

The diocesan newspaper is called The Virginia Episcopalian. The diocese produces ten editions a year; its editor is Emily Cherry. The diocese also produces a monthly newsletter for clergy and parish lay leaders called The Communiqué.

Our diocesan bishops