Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Pa.)

The diocese of Philadelphia was created in 1808 with Michael Egan, OFM, pastor of St. Mary's Church, as the first bishop. A controversy over trusteeism had embroiled St. Mary's parish since 1796 and would continue to mar the episcopacies of Egan (1810-1814), Henry Conwell (1820-1830), and Francis Patrick Kenrick (1830-1851).

Before it was raised to an archiepiscopal see, John Nepomucene Neumann served as its fourth (1852-1860) and James Frederick Wood as its fifth (1860-1875) bishop. Wood served as first archbishop of the metropolitan see (which covered the entire state of Pennsylvania) until his death. Patrick J. Ryan, coadjutor bishop of St. Louis, succeeded Wood (1884-1911).

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