A SPECIAL REPORT
By David W. Virtue and Mary Ann Mueller
www.virtueonline.org
December 16, 2010
A special VOL investigation into the state of Episcopal cathedrals across the U.S. has revealed that many are living on borrowed time, while a handful are thriving in difficult economic circumstances. Cathedrals usually occupy prime real estate locations in major cities, locations that, should they go out of business, offer great opportunities for developers or evangelical mega churches.The cathedral of the Diocese of Western Michigan - the diocese of the now deceased Bishop Charles E. Bennison, Sr. - was sold to an evangelical mega-church for less than the price to build it. The diocese is now without a cathedral. Fire sales can be expected in other dioceses across the US in the next decade.
Of the some 100 domestic dioceses in the Episcopal Church, 18 dioceses have no cathedrals including: Alaska, East Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Eastern Oregon, North Texas (Fort Worth); Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Northern Michigan, Northwest Texas, Rochester, San Joaquin, Southern Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, West Texas, West Virginia, Western Michigan and the Navajoland.
