In 1859 Bishop Kemper agreed to a convention, at which seven clergy and 11 laymen voted to form the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.

During the territorial era, the diocese formed the College of the Sisters of Bethany, an Episcopal girls school that closed in 1928.

At the end of his episcopacy, the diocese had expanded to 138 congregations, more than 3,000 communicants and 31 clergy, plus three schools and the hospital.

Fund raising efforts and leadership from Bishop Frank Millspaugh and the Rev.

J. P. DeBevers Kaye, money was raised for completion of the Cathedral, with exception of the towers, in 1917.