List of presiding bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America

This is a list of the Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church, USA. Initially the position of Presiding Bishop rotated geographically. After 1795 the Presiding Bishop was the senior bishop in order of consecration. Starting in 1926, the office became elective, the Presiding Bishop being chosen at General Convention by vote by all bishops, and approved by the House of Deputies. The office now has a nine-year term. Since 1938 the Presiding Bishop has been required to resign his former diocese after accepting election.

Presiding Bishop by seniority

# Presiding Bishop Image Took office Left office Diocese Length of term
1 White, WilliamWilliam White 01789-07-28 July 28, 1789 01789-10-03 October 3, 1789 Pennsylvania &100000000000000000000000 years, &1000000000000006700000067 days
2 Seabury, SamuelSamuel Seabury 01789-10-05 October 5, 1789 01792-09-08 September 8, 1792 Connecticut &100000000000000020000002 years, &10000000000000339000000339 days
3 Provoost, SamuelSamuel Provoost 01792-09-13 September 13, 1792 01795-09-08 September 8, 1795 New York &100000000000000020000002 years, &10000000000000360000000360 days
4 White, WilliamWilliam White 01795-09-08 September 8, 1795 01836-07-17 July 17, 1836 Pennsylvania &1000000000000004000000040 years, &10000000000000313000000313 days
5 Griswold, Alexander VietsAlexander Viets Griswold 01836-07-17 July 17, 1836 01843-02-15 February 15, 1843 Eastern &100000000000000060000006 years, &10000000000000213000000213 days
6 Chase, PhilanderPhilander Chase 01843-02-15 February 15, 1843 01852-09-20 September 20, 1852 Illinois &100000000000000090000009 years, &10000000000000218000000218 days
7 Brownell, Thomas ChurchThomas Church Brownell 01852-09-20 September 20, 1852 01865-01-13 January 13, 1865 Connecticut &1000000000000001200000012 years, &10000000000000115000000115 days
8 Hopkins, John HenryJohn Henry Hopkins 01865-01-13 January 13, 1865 01868-01-09 January 9, 1868 Vermont &100000000000000020000002 years, &10000000000000361000000361 days
9 Smith, Benjamin B.Benjamin B. Smith 01868-01-09 January 9, 1868 01884-05-31 May 31, 1884 Kentucky &1000000000000001600000016 years, &10000000000000143000000143 days
10 Lee, AlfredAlfred Lee 01884-05-31 May 31, 1884 01887-04-12 April 12, 1887 Delaware &100000000000000020000002 years, &10000000000000316000000316 days
11 Williams, JohnJohn Williams 01887-04-12 April 12, 1887 01899-02-07 February 7, 1899 Connecticut &1000000000000001100000011 years, &10000000000000301000000301 days
12 Clark, Thomas M.Thomas M. Clark 01899-02-07 February 7, 1899 01903-09-07 September 7, 1903 Rhode Island &100000000000000040000004 years, &10000000000000243000000243 days
13 Tuttle, Daniel S.Daniel S. Tuttle 01903-09-07 September 7, 1903 01923-04-17 April 17, 1923 Missouri &1000000000000001900000019 years, &10000000000000222000000222 days
14 Garrett, Alexander CharlesAlexander Charles Garrett 01923-04-17 April 17, 1923 01924-02-18 February 18, 1924 Dallas &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000307000000307 days
15 Talbot, EthelbertEthelbert Talbot 01924-02-18 February 18, 1924 01926-01-01 January 1, 1926 Central Pennsylvania &100000000000000010000001 year, &10000000000000317000000317 days

Presiding Bishop by election

# Presiding Bishop Image Took office Left office Previous diocese Length of term
16 Murray, John GardnerJohn Gardner Murray 01926-01-01 January 1, 1926 01929-10-03 October 3, 1929 Maryland &100000000000000030000003 years, &10000000000000275000000275 days
17 Anderson, Charles P.Charles P. Anderson 01929-11-13 November 13, 1929 01930-01-30 January 30, 1930 Chicago &100000000000000000000000 years, &1000000000000007800000078 days
18 Perry, James De WolfJames De Wolf Perry 01930-03-26 March 26, 1930 01937-12-31 December 31, 1937 Rhode Island &100000000000000070000007 years, &10000000000000280000000280 days
19 Tucker, Henry St. GeorgeHenry St. George Tucker 01938-01-01 January 1, 1938 01946-12-31 December 31, 1946 Virginia &100000000000000080000008 years, &10000000000000364000000364 days
20 Sherrill, HenryHenry Sherrill 01947-01-01 January 1, 1947 01958-11-14 November 14, 1958 Massachusetts &1000000000000001100000011 years, &10000000000000317000000317 days
21 Lichtenberger, ArthurArthur Lichtenberger 01958-11-15 November 15, 1958 01964-10-12 October 12, 1964 Missouri &100000000000000050000005 years, &10000000000000332000000332 days
22 Hines, JohnJohn Hines 01965-01-01 January 1, 1965 01974-05-31 May 31, 1974 Texas &100000000000000090000009 years, &10000000000000150000000150 days
23 Allin, JohnJohn Allin 01974-06-01 June 1, 1974 01985-12-31 December 31, 1985 Mississippi &100000000000000090000009 years, &10000000000000150000000150 days
24 Browning, EdmondEdmond Browning 01986-01-01 January 1, 1986 01997-12-31 December 31, 1997 Hawaii &1000000000000001100000011 years, &10000000000000364000000364 days
25 Griswold, FrankFrank Griswold 01998-01-01 January 1, 1998 02006-11-01 November 1, 2006 Chicago &100000000000000080000008 years, &10000000000000334000000334 days
26 Jefferts Schori, KatharineKatharine Jefferts Schori 02006-11-01 November 1, 2006 Nevada &100000000000000050000005 years, &10000000000000116000000116 days

External links

Presiding Bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
By seniority
By election