The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America whose territory comprises the southernmost part of the state of Texas.
In 2024, the diocese reported average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 6,690 persons, down from ASA of 8,592 in 2016. Public membership figures cited a decline from 22,963 in 2015 to 19,251 in 2023. No membership statistics were reported in 2024 national parochial reports. The 86 reporting congregations of the diocese had $29,557,948 in plate and pledge income in 2024.
Territory The see city is San Antonio, and the diocese includes the cities of Corpus Christi and Brownsville. (The westernmost part of Texas, including El Paso, falls under the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, which also covers all of New Mexico.)
History The Diocese of West Texas was formed on October 26, 1874 when the General Convention of the Episcopal Church voted in favor of the division of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas which led to the formation of the Missionary District of Northern Texas and the Missionary District of Western Texas. The Missionary District of Western Texas was formally established on May 6, 1875. On May 10, 1904, the missionary district was elevated to the status of a diocese, which led to the establishment of the Diocese of West Texas."West Texas, Diocese of", Diocesan Press Service. Retrieved on August 29, 2022.
Structure The diocese and its parishes sponsor twenty-eight parochial schools and preschools, including TMI Episcopal (founded as "West Texas Military Academy"), a boarding college-preparatory school on the outskirts of San Antonio. The diocese was also instrumental in the founding of St. Philip's College, which became a public community college in 1942.
As of 2024, the 5 largest parishes in the diocese by average weekly attendance are Christ Church, San Antonio, Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi, St Helena's, Boerne, St Luke's, San Antonio, and St Thomas's Church and School, San Antonio.
The Diocese of West Texas is part of Province VII.
Bishops There have been eleven diocesan bishops of West Texas and six suffragan bishops:
Robert W. B. Elliott (1874–1887) James Steptoe Johnston (1888–1916) William Theodotus Capers (1916–1943) Everett Holland Jones (1943–1968) *Richard Earl Dicus, suffragan (1955-1976) Harold Cornelius Gosnell (1968–1977) Scott Field Bailey (1977–1987) *Stanley F. Hauser, suffragan (1979-1987) John Herbert MacNaughton (1987–1995) *Earl N. McArthur, suffragan (1988-1993) James E. Folts (1996–2006) *Robert B. Hibbs, suffragan (1996-2003) Gary Richard Lillibridge (2006–2017) *David M. Reed, suffragan (2006-2015), coadjutor (2015-2017) *Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, suffragan (2016-2019) David M. Reed (2017-2023) David G. Read (2023 - present) *Angela Cortiñas, suffragan (2025-present)
The diocese does not have a church designated as its cathedral; the diocesan offices are in the Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio.
References
External links
Journal of the Annual Council, Diocese of West Texas