History

St. Philips Church was born as the People’s Church, built and nurtured by the people, many of whom were members of the Tlingit tribe.

In 1903 the People’s Church was established in Wrangell by a group, led by the Rev. Henry Corser, that  split off from the local Presbyterian congregation, disaffected by policies towards Tlingit parishioners.  The current white frame church was built on land donated by the Kiks’etti clan.   

In 1905 the Rt. Rev. Peter Trimble Rowe, Bishop of Alaska, received Mr. Corser and many of his congregation into the Episcopal Church. The People’s Church became St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.  Corser was ordained as a deacon and the following year as a priest. 

In the early days, church services were held in both English and Tlingit. During Fr. Corser’s ministry two devoted women, Ella Woods and Edith Peck, deaconesses of the Church, helped with visitation of the sick as well as working with  the Church School.  

In 1926 the generous gifts of Bishop Rowe, the National Council of the Episcopal Church, and civic-minded citizens of all denominations, enabled the building of a hospital. Bishop Rowe Hospital served the community until 1968.  

Following Fr. Corser’s retirement in 1934, the Revs. William Forbes and Thomas Paul Maslin led the church. From 1946 to 1948 St. Philip’s had no resident clergy. Church women kept the parish alive during those years.

The Rev. Hugh Hall arrived in 1948 and served until 1958 when he moved to Ketchikan.  

He was followed by the Revs. Wilfred Files, John Lodge,  Edward L. Caum, Stephen Kelsey, Liza Spangler, Arnold Krone, Jan Hotze, Veronica Knapick, Michael Curran, Julie Abbott-Jones, Dr. Paula Sampson, Ven. Dr. Ian MacKenzie, Wilson Valentine and David Elsensohn. 

St. Philip’s Church celebrated its centennial in 2005. 

We continue to serve Jesus Christ by nurturing all people and the earth, communicating love, faith, charity and inclusiveness through our worship and stewardship.