At least seven congregations in western Washington state are seeking to form an Anglican diocese outside of the Episcopal Church but within its ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

The congregations, calling themselves the Diocese of Cascadia, have sent a formal application for membership as a diocese to the newly formed Anglican Church in North America, said the Rev. Kevin Allen, rector of the recently formed St. Brendan's Anglican Church in Bellingham.

"We have various Anglican churches in the region that want to continue in mission and support what we share in common," Allen said in a telephone interview from his office March 18. "It seems very natural to come together and explore how to do that together under the eventual jurisdiction of a bishop."