Diocese of Virginia
 
The Diocese of Virginia was organized in May of 1785 and was one of the original nine dioceses represented at the first General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in September of that year. Today, the Diocese of Virginia has the largest membership in the Episcopal Church with over 78,000 active members. It is composed of 181 congregations divided among 38 counties. Geographically, it extends from its southern boundary along the James River northward into Maryland and West Virginia and from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay westward to the Shenandoah Valley.

The Diocese is faithfully served by the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee who was consecrated as the twelfth Bishop of Virginia in 1985. He is joined in his Episcopal ministry by the Rt. Rev. David C. Jones, Bishop Suffragan since 1995, and the Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Bishop Coadjutor, who was elected and consecrated in 2007. The Bishop’s seat is the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, an open-air chapel at the Shrine Mont Diocesan Conference Center, located in the Shenandoah Valley. This facility is used for diocesan meetings, conferences, clergy retreats, and, during the summer, hosts extensive youth camping programs. In Richmond, overlooking the James River, the Diocesan Center at Roslyn is used as a gathering place for continuing education, and for vestry and parish retreats.

The Diocese owns and operates five secondary schools and has part ownership of four continuing care retirement facilities. The Diocese enjoys close proximity to and the benefits of Virginia Theological Seminary, the largest Anglican Seminary in the world.