Our History

The diocese was formed after Jackson Kemper was named the Episcopal Church's first missionary bishop and oversaw the church's mission to the Northwest Territories from 1835 to 1859. He became provisional bishop of Wisconsin from 1847 to 1854 and first bishop of the Diocese of Wisconsin from 1854 to 1870.

In 1875, the Diocese of Fond du Lac was created to serve the northeastern 26 counties of the state. The Diocese of Eau Claire was formed out of the diocese in 1928 for the counties in the northwestern part of Wisconsin. The Diocese of Wisconsin became the Diocese of Milwaukee in 1886.

In 2021, it was announced that the dioceses of Fond du Lac, Eau Claire, and Milwaukee would contemplate entering into an agreement of greater collaboration. In October 2021, it was announced that the three dioceses would actively pursue reuniting as one diocese in Wisconsin. In May 2024, a special joint convention was held in Baraboo, Wisconsin, officiated by the Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, where the three dioceses voted to rejoin as one. This decision was confirmed by the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky on June 28, 2024.