History
Early Years 18th Century-1850
Creation of the Diocese: Bishop Richard V. Whelan, 1850-1874
The Diocese in Transition: Bishop John J. Kain, 1875-1893
Rev. John Joseph Kain succeeds Bishop Whelan to become the second bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling. A native of Martinsburg, Kain was ordained in 1866 and had been serving as pastor of St. Peter in Harpers Ferry.
Bishop Kain appeals to Rome for realignment of the dioceses of Wheeling and Richmond, wherein Wheeling would receive from Richmond the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, and Richmond would receive from Wheeling those counties in southwestern Virginia. The realignment would not be realized for more than a century. St. Vincent’s Seminary in Wheeling is closed.
The fourth diocesan Synod is held August 9 – 10 in Wheeling.
Bishop Kain participates in the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore.
Churches are built at Coal Valley, Fink, Newburg Wallace Switch and Huntington. The fifth diocesan Synod is held August 7 – 8 in Wheeling.
Churches are built at Colliers and Ronceverte.
Bishop Kain’s Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee is celebrated on July 2.
Churches are built at Buckhannon, Davis, Thomas, Pocahontas (Va.), and Sistersville. Bishop Kain is appointed Archbishop of St. Louis and departs Wheeling.
The Immigrants’ Bishop: Bishop Patrick J. Donahue, 1894-1922
God’s Bricklayer: Archbishop John J. Swint, 1922-1962
Vatican II and the Diocese: Bishop Joseph H. Hodges, 1962-1985
A Pilgrim Bishop: Bishop Francis B. Schulte, 1984-1989
On a Journey Together, Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt, 1989-