Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Diocese of Western Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province I |
| Statistics | |
| Congregations | 50 (2024) |
| Members | 10,844 (2023) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| Established | November 10, 1901 |
| Cathedral | Christ Church Cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Douglas John Fisher |
| Map | |
Location of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts | |
| Website | |
| www.diocesewma.org | |
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the five western counties of Massachusetts. Formed from a division of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, it was officially recognized at the organizing convention of November 10, 1901. At a special meeting on January 22, 1902, Alexander Hamilton Vinton, Rector of All Saints Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, was elected first diocesan bishop.
The first two Church of England parishes in what would become the diocese were started in Great Barrington in 1762 and Lanesborough in 1767 on the Housatonic River, at first served by priests from the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.
There are 50 congregations in the diocese. The Episcopal See is in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Since 1929, the cathedral has been Christ Church Cathedral, which was built in 1876. On November 15, 2025, the Rev. Miguelina Howell was elected diocesan bishop, pending completion of a canonical consent process.
The diocese reported 15,032 members in 2015 and 10,844 members in 2023; no membership statistics were reported in 2024 parochial reports. Plate and pledge income for the 50 filing congregations of the diocese in 2024 was $7,096,647. Average Sunday attendance (ASA) was 2,571 persons.