The Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas

The Diocese of Northwest Texas is comprised of eighty counties covering 77,000 square miles. Northwest Texas became a missionary district in 1911, when the Missionary District of Northern Texas split into two regions: the Diocese of Dallas and the Missionary District of North Texas, by action of the General Convention, and petitioned the General Convention to become a diocese in 1958. It is home to 26 parishes, missions, and congregations; six schools, and one retirement center in Odessa.

The office of the bishop, the Sam Byron Hulsey Episcopal Center, is located in Lubbock, in the center of the diocese. We have been served by eight bishops beginning with Bishop Edward Arthur Temple, 1910-1924; Bishop Eugene Cecil Seaman, 1925-1945; Bishop George Henry Quarterman, 1946-1958; Bishop Willis Ryan Henton, 1972-1980; Bishop Sam Byron Hulsey, 1980-1997; Bishop Charles Wallis Ohl, 1997-2008; and Bishop James Scott Mayer, March 21, 2009- present.

The Diocese of Northwest Texas is a place where the vast open plains are as wondrous as the big sky above. The stars, moon, and sun depicted in Bishop Scott Mayer's pectoral cross are representative of the beauty one may find in this region of Texas. The landscape, covering 77,000 square miles is as diverse as the cities and people, with the canyons and rangeland of the Staked Plains; agricultural fields abounding; the rough and ready country of the Rolling Plains; and the arid Permian Basin, where oil is king. The people here are known for their warm and friendly smiles and demeanor, making one feel like an old and trusted friend.

Non-Texans who visit our website may find our West Texas culture, our flora and our fauna somewhat foreign. Many may even wonder why we love this area as we do.

To help our website viewers from around the world understand what we love about our "home" so much, we have chosen to include a beautiful slideshow from the website of Wyman Meinzer, considered to be the official photographer of Texas. This talented and renowned photographer has a unique way of capturing the beauty, the lore, and the vastness of the West Texas region. The slideshow is accompanied by an outstanding piano piece by West Texan, Doug Smith, who easily captures the essence of our unique region. Sadly, Doug Smith died in June of 2016, but his legacy lives on.

Please click this link to to view the slideshow presentation: West Texas by Wyman Meinzer.