Ramsey County History – Fall 2007: “Creating a Diocese: The Election of Minnesota’s First Episcopal Bishop”

Creating a Diocese: The Election of Minnesota’s First Episcopal Bishop
Author: Ann Beiser Allen

By 1857, Minnesota had nineteen Episcopal churches, several others that were forming, and 400 members, many of them leaders in their communities. As required by the national body of the Episcopal Church, there was a meeting in St. Paul in September 1857 at which a diocesan constitution was drawn up and approved, but Episcopalians in the state did not elect their first diocesan bishop until June 29, 1859 at St. Paul’s Church at Olive and Ninth Streets. During the balloting, a deadlock occurred. Neither of the two local leaders had enough votes to win. Finally a long-shot named Rev. Henry B. Whipple was supported by several people who knew him, and he was elected. Whipple had been successful as an organizer and fundraiser in New York and Chicago, where he was then located. As it turned out, he did a fine job in his forty-two years as bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Whipple is also well known for his support of Native American causes.
PDF of Allen article