the diocese of saint thomas was erected as the territorial prelature of the virgin islands on april 30, 1960. its name was changed and was elevated to a diocese on april 20, 1977. it is the only suffragan see of the archdiocese of washington. the diocese is governed from charlotte amalie on the island of saint thomas by a bishop whose episcopal seat is the cathedral of saints peter and paul. the current bishop of saint thomas is herbert a. bevard, who was appointed on july 7, 2008, and was ordained and installed on september 3.