In 1969 the Diocese of Central Florida, the Diocese of Southeast Florida, and the Diocese of Southwest Florida were created out of a division of the large
Diocese of South Florida. Bishop Henry I. Louttit, Bishop of South Florida presided over the primary Conventions of each new diocese for the purpose of electing their Diocesan Bishops. The two Suffragan Bishops of South Florida were elected to be Diocesan Bishops in the areas in which they had been living and serving. Bishop William H. Folwell was elected to become the second Bishop of Central Florida.
On January 29, 2000 at the 31st Convention of the Diocese, held in Orlando, the delegates approved a new vision for the diocese which called for the revitalization of existing congregations and the establishment of 15 new congregations between 2001 and 2010. At the 34th Convention of the diocese, in January 2003, the diocese kicked off From Strength to Strength - a campaign to fund the new vision approved in 2000. In 2004, at the 35th Convention, the diocese became a member of the Anglican Communion Network, a decision which was reversed when the diocese withdrew from the Network in 2008.
The diocese comprises five deaneries: Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. As of 2006 there were 75 parishes and 11 missions in the diocese. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando.
John Wadsworth Howe (born November 4, 1942); elected bishop coadjutor December 10, 1988; consecrated April 15, 1989; succeeded as diocesan bishop January 1, 1990; retired in 2012.
