Episcopal Church. Diocese of Michigan records, 1830-2016

Summary

Creator:

Episcopal Church. Diocese of Michigan.

Abstract:

Bishops files, records of executive and administrative bodies and of diocesan organizations, staff files, parishes and mission's materials, and visual materials and sound recordings.

Extent:

66.5 linear feet
12 oversize volumes
3 oversize folders

Language:

English

Call Number:

86726;BA;Ba;2;UBAl; Ba Out

Authors:

Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff, updated April 2017

Background

Scope and Content:

The records of the diocese of Michigan have been arranged into the following series: Bishops' files, Executive and administrative bodies, Diocesan organizations, Diocesan programs, Diocesan staff, Parishes and missions, Clergy, Audio and visual material, and Miscellaneous.

The record group is most valuable for its documentation of the history of the diocese and the individual churches within its administration, with a lesser amount of material pertaining to religious functions performed and to the operation of diocesan administrative groups and departments. For a number of reasons, there is scant material pertaining to the administration of the diocesan office or to the special programs that have been initiated by it over the years. Some of this material may be found in the papers of individual bishops whose papers have also come to the library and are separately cataloged. These include Samuel McCoskry, Samuel Smith Harris, Charles D. Williams, Herman Page, and Richard Emrich. Records of parishes that remain open are under the jurisdiction of the relevant parish, and records of other institutions that remain open, such as missions, are under the jurisdiction of their deanery or parent parish. Local-level records held by the diocesan archives largely concern parishes, missions, etc. that have closed.

Biographical / Historical:

The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan was organized in 1832 by Anglican parishes in the then territory of Michigan (which included present-day Wisconsin). From its beginning St. Paul's Church in Detroit served as the see of the diocese, and the early bishops served as rector of St. Paul's. When Michigan became a state the boundaries of the diocese were fixed as the boundaries of the state. As the church grew the bishops found it difficult to administer such a large area, and the parishes farther from Detroit desired a bishop closer to their own areas and more attuned to their local needs. To address these concerns the diocese eventually was divided three times. In 1875 the western half of the Lower Peninsula became the Diocese of Western Michigan. In 1895 the Upper Peninsula became the Diocese of Marquette (later renamed Diocese of Northern Michigan). In 1995, the northeastern Lower Peninsula, Saginaw Valley, and Thumb Areas became the Diocese of Eastern Michigan. In 2024, the Diocese of Eastern Michigan and the Diocese of Western Michigan merged to create the new Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes, headquartered in Saginaw. As a result, the Diocese of Michigan extends as far west as Lansing, Jackson, and Hillsdale, although the Diocese of Michigan Archives includes previous records from Episcopal institutions elsewhere in the state.

In the nineteenth century the diocese was concerned with the strains of carrying the gospel to a region rapidly going through the development from frontier to a more settled state. As early as the 1840s the church began to develop urban missions in Detroit to African Americans (St. Matthew's) and laborers (Mariners' Church). The 1850s saw the development of missions in the lumbering regions of the Saginaw Valley and the mining regions of the Upper Peninsula. The problem of supporting churches in poor farming areas was a constant concern.

The major emphasis of the diocese changed in the twentieth century with the rise of the automobile industry. Throughout the century the fortunes of the diocese were closely tied to the development and decline of the industry in the Detroit area. The rapid rise in Detroit's wealth and power in the 1910s and 1920s were reflected in a diocese that became one of the largest and most influential in the national Episcopal Church. The suburbanization of the 1940s and 1950s led to a great emphasis on building and physical expansion in the diocese. The decline of Detroit in the 1970s and 1980s saw the diocese cutting back and closing parishes.

At the same time that external forces were buffeting the diocese, struggles within the church caused much controversy. Early in the 20th century, Bishop Williams led the diocese to confront the church's responsibility to labor. Later Bishops Emrich and McGehee challenged the community with issues of civil rights, peace, and justice. Beginning in the 1950s the diocese debated the role of women, and later gays and lesbians, in the church. And in a church that defines itself chiefly by worship, the question of liturgical change brought great dissension.

The bishop is the chief executive and pastor of the diocese. Sometimes the bishop has been assisted by a suffragan or coadjutor. The chief administrative bodies of the diocese include the diocesan convention, which meets annually to set policy and approve the diocesan budget. Since 1920 the executive council (since 1995 called diocesan council) has met between conventions to continue its policy-making role. The standing committee provides advice and counsel for the bishop. Since 1875 the trustees of the diocese have managed the diocesan assets. The chancellor has since 1904 provided the bishop with legal counsel. The parishes in the diocese have been divided into regional groupings called either convocations or archdeaconries (since 1995 called area councils) that have varied over the years in number, names, and responsibilities.

Bishops of the Diocese of Michigan

Date	Event
1836-1878	Samuel Allen McCoskry
1879-1888	Samuel Smith Harris
1889-1905	Thomas Frederick Davies
1906-1923	Charles David Williams
1924-1940	Herman Page
1940-1948	Frank Whittington Creighton
1948-1973	Richard Stanley Merrill Emrich
1973-1990	H. Coleman McGehee
1990-2000	R. Stewart Wood
2000-2020	Wendell N. Gibbs
2020-	Bonnie A. Perry

Bishops Coadjutor

Date	Event
1937-1939	Frank Whittington Creighton
1945-1946	Donald B. Aldrich
1971-1973	H. Coleman McGehee
1988-1990	R. Stewart Wood
2000	Wendell N. Gibbs

Suffragan Bishops

Date	Event
1946-1948	Richard Stanley Merrill Emrich
1948-1954	Russell Sturgis Hubbard
1954-1972	Archie Henry Crowley
1960-1963	Robert L. Dewitt
1964-1966	Chauncie Kilmer Myers
1976-1992	H. Irving Mayson

Assistant Bishop

Date	Event
1976-1985	William J. Gordon

Acquisition Information:

The record group is on deposit from the Diocese of Michigan (Donor no. 1059 ). The records have come to the library in numerous accessions beginning in 1960.

Accruals:

Periodic additions to the records expected.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan houses several records from episcopal offices pertaining to the Church in Michigan, including correspondences and despatches by Michigan's first three Episcopal bishops.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Camps.
Chapels.
Church buildings.
Clergy.
Demonstrations.
Gay rights.
Interiors -- Churches.
Missions -- Michigan.
Religion.
Women's rights.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Adrian.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Algonac.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Alma.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Alpena.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Au Sable.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Bad Axe.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Bay City.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Birmingham.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Bloomfield Hills.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Brighton.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Brooklyn.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Cambridge Junction.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Cheboygan.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Chesaning.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Coleman.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Corunna.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Croswell.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Dearborn.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Detroit.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Dexter.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Dryden.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Durand.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- East Tawas.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Fenton.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Ferndale.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Flint.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Gladwin.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Grosse Pointe.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Hagensville.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Hamburg.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Hazel Park.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Hillman.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Hillsdale.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Houghton Lake.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Howell.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Hudson.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Inkster.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Jackson.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Jonesville.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Lachine.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Lansing.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Lapeer.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Lexington.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Lincoln Park.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Long Rapids.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Mackinac Island.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Marine City.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Marlette.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Monroe.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Onaway.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Otter Lake.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Owosso.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Plymouth.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Pointe Aux Pins.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Pontiac.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Port Huron.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Rochester.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Rose City.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Roseville.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Royal Oak.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Saginaw.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Saint Clair.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Saint Johns.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Standish.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Wayne.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- West Branch.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Williamston.
Anglican church buildings -- Michigan -- Wyandotte.

Formats:

Photographs.
Motion pictures.
Sound recordings.
Videotapes.

Names:

All Saint's Episcopal Church (Brooklyn, Mich.)
All Saints Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
Batchelder Hall (Romeo, Mich.)
Calvary Church (Saginaw, Mich.)
Calvary Episcopal Church (Hillman, Mich.)
Christ Episcopal Church (Dearborn, Mich.)
Christ Church (East Tawas, Mich.)
Christ Church (Henrietta, Mich.)
Christ Church (Stockbridge, Mich.)
Christ Church (Detroit, Mich.)
Church of the Carpenter (Marlette, Mich.)
Church of the Good Shepherd (Detroit, Mich.)
Church of the Incarnation (Detroit, Mich.)
Deckerville Chapel (Bridgehampton, Mich.)
Emmanuel Episcopal Church (Saint Louis, Mich.)
Epiphany Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
Episcopal Church. Diocese of Michigan.
Episcopal Church -- Michigan.
Episcopal Church (Port Crescent, Mich.)
Episcopal Mission (Norwood, Mich.)
Good Samaritan Hospital (Saginaw, Mich.)
Grace Episcopal Church (Jonesville, Mich.)
Grace Church (Mount Clemens, Mich.)
Grace Episcopal Church (Port Huron, Mich.)
Grace Episcopal Church (Bay City, Mich.)
Grace Episcopal Church (Gagetown, Mich.)
Grace Episcopal Church (Lapeer, Mich.)
Grace Episcopal Church (Long Rapids, Mich.)
Grace Mission (Belleville, Mich.)
Mariners' Church of Detroit (Detroit, Mich.)
Messiah Church (Linden, Mich.)
St. Alban's Episcopal Church (Highland Park, Mich.)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
St. Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Flint, Mich.)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Romulus, Mich.)
St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Oakley Park, Mich.)
St. George's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Hilda's Episcopal Church (River Rouge, Mich.)
St. James Episcopal Church (Birmingham, Mich.)
St. James Episcopal Church (Cheboygan, Mich.)
St. James Episcopal Church (Dexter, Mich.)
St. James Episcopal Church (Grosse Ile, Mich.)
St. James' Episcopal Church (Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Au Sable, Mich.)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Big Rapids, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Clinton, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Howell, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Otter Lake, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Royal Oak, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Sandusky, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Vassar, Mich.)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Wayne, Mich.)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Allen Park, Mich.)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Ferndale, Mich.)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church (Hazel Park, Mich.)
St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Coldwater, Mich.)
St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Marine City, Mich.)
St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Grass Lake, Mich.)
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Matthias' Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church (Cambridge Junction, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Bad Axe, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Brighton, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Carsonville, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Corunna, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Flint, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Harsen's Island, Mich.)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Jackson, Mich.)
St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Hillsdale, Mich.)
St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Tecumseh, Mich.)
St. Philip's and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Rochester, Mich.)
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Escanaba, Mich.)
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Hamburg, Mich.)
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Wyandotte, Mich.)
St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Detroit, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Alpena, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Gladstone, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Hudson, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Mackinac Island, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Monroe, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Saint Clair, Mich.)
Trowbridge Mission (Menominee, Mich.)
St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church (Eastpointe, Mich.)
Campbell, James V. (James Valentine), 1823-1890.
Conover, James F.
Creighton, Frank W.
Davies, Thomas F.
Davis, William L.
Harris, Samuel Smith, 1841-1888.
Jamieson, Andrew.
Lyster, William Narcissus.
Miller, Sidney Trowbridge, 1864-1940.
Mills, Julia H.
Page, Herman, 1866-1942.
Pittman, James E.
Trowbridge, C. C. (Charles Christopher), 1800-1883.
Welton, Alanson W.
Williams, Charles David, 1860-1923.
Emrich, Richard S. M. (Richard Stanley Merrill), 1910-
McCoskry, Samuel Allen, 1804-1886.
Baldwin, Henry P. (Henry Porter), 1814-1892.

Places:

Allen Park (Mich.)
Alpena (Mich.)
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Au Sable (Mich.)
Bad Axe (Mich.)
Bay City (Mich.)
Beechville (Mich.)
Belleville (Mich.)
Big Rapids (Mich.)
Birmingham (Mich.)
Bridgehampton (Mich.)
Brighton (Mich.)
Brooklyn (Mich.)
Cambridge Junction (Mich.)
Carsonville (Mich.)
Cheboygan (Mich.)
Clinton (Mich.)
Coldwater (Mich.)
Corunna (Mich.)
Dearborn (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Dexter (Mich.)
East Tawas (Mich.)
Escanaba (Mich.)
Ferndale (Mich.)
Flint (Mich.)
Gagetown (Mich.)
Gladstone (Mich.)
Grass Lake (Mich.)
Grosse Ile (Mich.)
Hamburg (Mich.)
Sans Souci (Mich.)
Hazel Park (Mich.)
Henrietta (Mich.)
Highland Park (Mich.)
Hillman (Mich.)
Hillsdale (Mich.)
Howell (Mich.)
Hudson (Mich.)
Jackson (Mich.)
Jonesville (Mich.)
Lapeer (Mich.)
Linden (Mich.)
Long Rapids (Mich.)
Mackinac Island (Mich.)
Marine City (Mich.)
Marlette (Mich.)
Menominee (Mich.)
Monroe (Mich.)
Mount Clemens (Mich.)
Norwood (Mich.)
Oakley Park (Mich.)
Otter Lake (Mich.)
Port Crescent (Mich.)
Port Huron (Mich.)
Michigan -- Church history.
River Rouge (Mich.)
Rochester (Mich.)
Romeo (Mich.)
Romulus (Mich.)
Royal Oak (Mich.)
Saginaw (Mich.)
Saint Clair (Mich.)
Saint Louis (Mich.)
Sandusky (Mich.)
Sault Sainte Marie (Mich.)
Stockbridge (Mich.)
Tecumseh (Mich.)
Trowbridge (Mich.)
Vassar (Mich.)
Wayne (Mich.)
Wyandotte (Mich.)
Ypsilanti (Mich.)