Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the five western counties of Massachusetts. Formed from a division of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, it was officially recognized at the organizing convention of November 10, 1901. At a special meeting on January 22, 1902, Alexander Hamilton Vinton, Rector of All Saints Church in Worcester, Massachusetts. was elected first diocesan bishop. The first two Anglican parishes in what would become the diocese were started in Great Barrington in 1762 and Lanesborough in 1767 on
St. James Episcopal Church (Amesbury, Massachusetts) at St. James under Fr. Mike Shirley. The Reverend Susan Esco-Chandler became a Priest-in-Charge at St. James in 2006, and oversaw extensive renovations to the church and growth in children's programs, Christian education, and membership. St. James Episcopal Church (Amesbury, Massachusetts) St. James Episcopal Church is an historic parish in Amesbury, Massachusetts. St. James parish, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, has its roots in 18th century Anglican worship, and takes its present form from the Episcopal Church of the 19th century. Episcopalians were worshipping in Amesbury as early as 1711. The first Episcopal church was built around 1745, in what is now