About St. Philip's

St. Philip's is a parish made up of people from many backgrounds and walks of life. Our faith binds us together — faith in God, and faith in Christ's presence in our city.

St Philip's exists to share the love of Jesus Christ with our community — and the world — through worship and service. Whether you are a confirmed Episcopalian or a member of another faith, we invite you to explore Christian life and fellowship with us.

Since its founding in 1880, St. Philip's has provided a warm, supportive, and personal atmosphere for worship. Our common worship is solidly built on the Anglican tradition of orderly liturgy, strong preaching, and exceptionally sung sacred music — and we offer innovative Christian formation programs for children and adults alike. We provide care and ministry from the day a parishioner is born, and we welcome even the youngest child to our services.

Historically, St Philip's has been a leader in Durham and the Diocese in its service to the community. We feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, offer hope to the despondent, and dedicate our service to Jesus Christ, reaching out to others with His love.

St Philip's welcomes you with open arms and open hearts. We believe you will find — as we have — a place where your relationship with the Lord and with others will grow stronger and more meaningful.

History

"Legend has it that the congregation of St. Philip's took its start when Deacon Joseph Blount Cheshire, Jr., walked on Sunday, May 26, 1878 from Chapel Hill to Durham and conducted morning and evening prayer for ten or so Episcopal communicants in a hall over Duke's store." 

This is the first sentence of the Prologue of Harold T. Parker's book The History of St. Philip's Episcopal Church 1878-1994.  Since its inception, St. Philip's has been a place for people who are both enthused and determined in their mission to worship and to serve God. 

Yet it is our worship which unites us.  From the traditional Holy Eucharist to daily noonday prayers, from Wednesday night sung Compline to our 9:00 am service in the parish hall, St. Philippians gather regularly to hear and respond to the Word of God. 

Together we share the Anglican tradition - following the liturgical calendar that offers a devout rhythm to our daily worship, along with feasts and festivals that celebrate the seasons of our lives - sometimes with simplicity and sometimes with the beauty and grandeur of the high church.

These dual commitments - to worship and outreach, as well as the many other ways in which we live our lives in Christian community, has made St. Philip's a vibrant part of the city of Durham and the Anglican Communion.  From the days of Deacon Cheshire's walk to our current bustling community, St. Philip's has always been a place of commitment to a life in Christ.   Join us.

© 2003, Saint Philip's Episcopal Church
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 218, Durham, NC 27702
Telephone 919-682-5708, Fax 919-683-1857

Webmasters: Jack Mitchell, David Smith