Episcopal ministry work began in Rochester in the nineteenth century.  The first parish register was kept by the Rev. Herbert H.H. Fox.  The Rev. Fox served between 1905 and 1910.  He says, "This register was begun by the Rev. Herbert H. H. Fox January 26, 1910.  What entries in All Saints' Parish Register of Rochester acts (i.e. service performed in Rochester) that he could find he transferred to this Register...The Mission was organized by the Rev. L. S. Stevens."  The Rev. Mr. Stevens, referred to by Mr. Fox, served here before 1884 although no definite dates are recorded.

After a period of inactivity, a group of Episcopalians organized St. Philip's as a Diocesan Mission, and held its first services in March 1927, in a room over Plassey's Store on Main Street.  A two story house on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Walnut Boulevard was purchased in 1928 and remodeled into a Mission Church until June 17,1951 when the present Church was completed.  We became an organized mission in 1929 and achieved full parish status in 1955.  The present Religious Education building was completed in 1960.  The parking lot eastof the church was paved and landscaped during the summer of 1971 and a Reuter pipe organ was installed in 1973. Both are memorial gifts.

History