The Diocese of Southwest Florida was created in 1969, having formerly been part of the Diocese of Florida. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, located in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The jurisdiction of the diocese stretches from the Tampa Bay area on the Gulf Coast of Florida, to the Ft. Myers area. The diocese oversees 78 congregations and approximately 36,000 Episcopalians. The diocesan bishop is Rt. Rev. John B. Lipscomb.