our glorious beginningsSince 1809, St. Philip's Church-through its clergy and congregation, its tradition and service, its goals and dreams-has been an institution of major spiritual and civic importance in the Harlem community. Our history is a rich and memorable one, reaching back to 1704 when Elias Neau, a former galley slave turned prosperous businessman, opened a School for Negroes under the auspices of the London-based Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The Christian family now known as "St. Philip's" traces its origins to this beginning.After worshiping for almost a century under the supervision of Trinity Church on Wall Street on Sunday afternoons, in 1809, these African American parishioners formed their own community of worship-the Free African Church of St. Philip. They laid the foundation of what became, in 1818, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, the first African-American Episcopal parish in the City of New York. Over the years, the congregation flourished, and by the 1950s, St. Philip's was the largest Christian congregation in the United States. As the neighborhood began to change, the parish ministry increasingly reached out to the wider community. Throughout its history, St. Philip's has been at the vanguard of religious and social activism. Beginning with the Rev. Peter Williams, Jr., a leading abolitionist and the church's first rector (1826-1840), St. Philip's played a key role in the debate on slavery and injustice. Later generations of clergy joined parishioners and prominent community leaders in the struggle to secure civil rights and economic justice for all people. St. Philip's also has a strong tradition of outreach into the community included: the purchase and management of a cemetery for New York's African American residents; the Female Assistance Society which provided aid and insurance to sick New York residents; the St. Christopher's Club for teenage boys; building and later purchasing apartment buildings to ensure fair and safe housing for African Americans on 30th Street and later on 135th Street. Since that time, St. Philip's has expanded its commitment to serve the community through a variety of programs addressing the needs of children, teenagers, the elderly, the sick and the poor and promoting theater, jazz, and studio arts in the Harlem community.
our buildingThe current building is the fourth home of the parish. St. Philip's has been located in the first communities of African American New York residents. Its first two sites were on Centre Street. In 1822, a brick building replaced the original wood frame church damaged by fire. This same building would undergo two more reconstructions. In 1834, irate whites vandalized the church and in 1863, New York City police used the church as a barrachs for militia and police handling draft riots. By 1886 the church was located on 25th Street. Continuing the tradition of previous generations, St. Philip's utilized the services of African American professionals to locate property, design, and build a new church in 1910 on 134th Street. The present church building is a New York City Designated Landmark. It was designed in neo-Gothic style by the firm of Tandy & Foster under the direction of the first African American licensed as an architect in New York. St. Philip's Church is also included in the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
our workToday, St. Philip's pays homage to its roots through its many religious and community activities. The church provides opportunities for spiritual development through its worship and Christian education, music, and numerous parish activities. The St. Philip's family also maintains its historic commitment to serving the needs of those in the community.
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