St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church

St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church is a Christian community in Tucson that brings together worship, study, service, music, pastoral care, and fellowship.

About St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church

St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church is a Christian community in Tucson that brings together worship, study, service, music, pastoral care, and fellowship. Founded in 1936, the parish describes itself as a community gathered in love, transformed by grace, and sent to serve. Its work includes serving people in need across the city of Tucson, while welcoming people at every point in their journey of faith. With approximately 400 households from many different walks of life and backgrounds, St. Philip's is one of the largest Episcopal parishes in Arizona.

Worship is central to parish life. Sunday offerings include Holy Eucharist in both traditional and modern language, with the modern-language service also available through livestreaming. During the current summer building work on the historic sanctuary, Sunday worship is being held in the Bloom Music Center on the north end of the campus. The parish also offers Come & See, an alternative service of prayer and reflection, while Choral Evensong is offered from September through May. A nursery with trained attendants is available during the Sunday morning worship period.

The church's broader program includes sacraments, weddings, funerals, adult formation, and opportunities to meet other parishioners. Children, youth, and family ministries are part of the parish's offerings, along with creation care, outreach, and pastoral care. Music has a substantial place in the life of St. Philip's, with choirs, concerts, major feasts, a Rising Stars program, a UK Residency Program, a music library, and musical instruments. The parish also shares Daily Bread reflections and publishes the Bell & Tower newsletter, providing regular ways for members and others to stay connected.

St. Philip's campus includes facilities, a clay studio, a columbarium, and the historic sanctuary. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its 1936 sanctuary is recognized as a prominent example of work by Tucson architect Josias Joesler. Current preservation work includes essential repairs to the sanctuary's primary facade. The parish has received a $150,000 grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places, a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to support those repairs.

People interested in St. Philip's can begin by attending worship, joining a study or ministry, following the parish calendar, or connecting through its online services and publications. The church warmly welcomes newcomers and maintains several forms of parish leadership, including clergy and lay staff, a vestry, committees, and boards. During the sanctuary work, visitors should expect worship to take place in the Bloom Music Center, with some offerings available online. St. Philip's serves the Tucson community from its campus on North Campbell Avenue and continues its ministry through worship, study, music, pastoral care, and service.