St. Philip’s is a community of Christians who yearn to receive more and more of what God gives. We believe that this provides us with what we need and cannot provide for ourselves, and invites us to be deeply grateful and to share generously what we have been given. We are committed to showing up for one another, that we may remember what it means and what it takes to be God’s people.
Since January 8, 1871, when 20 Episcopalians gathered in Easthampton Town Hall to worship, our parish has been anchored by the Episcopal Church’s roots, tracing back to Jesus and his ministry. We embrace scripture, tradition, and reason as we strive to follow the Way of Christ. Today our congregation comprises 65 active members. Our average Sunday attendance is between 40 and 50 people. Our youngest member is two years old; our oldest just celebrated her 98th birthday. Some of us are lifelong Episcopalians. Others are new Christians. And there are many people in between.
When our priest-in-charge came to us in 2016, it was not clear whether St. Philip’s could or should remain open. Over the past 10 years we have moved out of a “survival” mindset and into one of thriving. Our parish is having an effective impact on the quality of life in Easthampton and is an important contributor to the mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
In the spring of 2024, we partnered with Holy Cow! Consulting. Fifty of us completed the Church Assessment Tool. The results of that survey revealed that St. Philip’s is a healthy, mutually trusting place, where worship, the spiritual life, and reaching out beyond our own walls stand out as our hallmarks. The report described us as a “Magi Church” with the capacity to embrace the next phase of our parish’s mission, life, and ministry.
Long, long ago, Philip, our patron saint, told his friend Nathanael:
“We have found him about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote,
Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth,” to which Nathanael replied,
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip invited him to “Come and see.”
(John 1:45-46)​
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Can anything good come out of Easthampton, Massachusetts? With God’s help, we believe it can – and already does. We invite you to “Come and see.”
the area/our location
Easthampton
For 125 years, our church has been located on Main Street, Easthampton, a city of 16,000+ residents nestled at the base of Mt. Tom in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. Founded in 1871, the congregation first worshiped in several places in the city before finally purchasing our present location in 1899. That property included not only the building that is now our parish hall, but also a large house that served as the rectory after the church was built in 1901. The rectory was sold in 1999, completely dismantled, and rebuilt in a nearby town. A much-needed parking lot now occupies that space.
St. Philip’s has been part of Easthampton’s history as the city has evolved from a rural farming village to a flourishing mill town, and now to a vibrant and diverse community with a wealth of artists, retail shops, award-winning restaurants, and numerous recreational opportunities.
We are part of the Five College area in Hampshire County. Our community’s commitment to the education of children and young people is comprehensive and strong. The public schools include Easthampton High and Mountain View (serving 1400 students, pre-K to Grade 12) and Hilltown Cooperative Charter School (Grades K – 8). In addition, two independent schools are located here: The Williston Northampton School (Grades 7-12, founded in 1841) and Neari School, a special education school serving 50 elementary, middle, and high school students from all parts of the region. Six childcare centers and three dance schools also are found here.
Numerous organizations and locations in Easthampton contribute to the city’s overall quality of life:
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Easthampton Community Center distributes food, clothes and household goods.
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Council on Aging Enrichment Center offers programming for seniors.
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The Easthampton Housing Authority, The Treehouse Community, and the Lathrop Community all provide specialized housing options.
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One Cottage Street is the site of numerous artist studios, as well as Riverside Industries serving people with disabilities.
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City Space is a cultural hub for visual artists and musicians and is being renovated to become a venue for larger music and theater performances.
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Millside Park is an outdoor venue for outdoor concerts and events.
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Easthampton Community Gardens offers public garden plots for residents.
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Nonotuck Park, Nashawannuck Pond, the Manhan Rail Trail, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, the Pascommuck Conservation Trust, and the Mt. Tom State Reservation provide numerous ways to enjoy the outdoors.
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Other churches in Easthampton include Our Lady of the Valley (Roman Catholic), Easthampton Congregational Church, Trinity Lutheran Church (Unaltered Augsburg Confession), Calgary Baptist Church, and God is Love (non-denominational Christian congregation). Nearby churches include two other Congregational churches and a Methodist church.
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The Easthampton Public Library, the town’s youth sports programs, the farmers’ market, and the Veteran’s Council add vitality to these community resources.
Oh! And all parking in the city is free.
The Episcopal Diocese of
western massachusetts
Empower
Growth
Our diocese is shepherded by recently-elected bishop, The Rt. Rev. Miguelina Howell, who describes herself as “a fellow traveler.” Already she has discovered that we are a diocese “with a rich history, faithful congregations, a deep commitment to justice, and people who love Jesus Christ and care deeply about their communities.”
With her election, the diocese has adopted this new logo, the tree of life, symbolizing our communion with God. The diocesan vision, “Growing in God’s Mission: We are in this TOGETHER!” reflects our commitment to a way of being Church that values connection over isolation, collaboration over competition, and mutual ministry over individualism. Together, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to cultivating communities where all God’s people may grow in faith, serve with joy, and participate fully in God’s dream for the
world.
Our diocese comprises 50 parishes and missions in three regions, or “corridors.” St. Philip’s is one of 17 congregations in the Connecticut River Valley corridor.
To hear directly from Bishop Howell, we recommend this video.
To learn more about the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts: https://www.diocesewma.org/
OUR MISSION and ministry
The Book of Common Prayer describes the church as “the community of the New Covenant” with the mission “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” With God’s help, we seek to be a community that worships and grows spiritually together, and takes care of one another while reaching out to serve the wider world.
WORSHIP anchors everything we do,
binding us together as the Body of Christ.
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Each Sunday we celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. or offer lay-led Morning Prayer when our priest is not available, using Rite Two for both services. These services are live-streamed for those who cannot join in person. Our worship is enhanced by an exceptionally strong choir/music ministry (people really sing here!), heartfelt prayers of the people, and the laying on of hands (“Community Blessings”) marking important transitions in the lives of those worshiping.
Five evenings each week, a team of lay people leads Compline on our Facebook live-stream.
We mark the rhythms of the church year with Harvest Sunday and an altar of remembrance in the autumn; mid-week prayer services during Advent; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services; an ecumenical Blessing of the Palms with our neighbors at the Easthampton Congregational Church next door; and Holy Week services that culminate in Easter Vigil and Easter Day celebrations.
Baptisms, funerals and memorial services are opportunities for us to celebrate Christ’s abiding presence. Within the past few years, Bishop Fisher (now retired) confirmed or received several adults into the Episcopal Church at St. Philip’s.
FORMATION opportunities invite people of every age
to learn and to grow in their faith.
Until recently, adult parishioners gathered on Zoom for the Sunday Lectionary Study Group led by our priest-in-charge. That group is on hiatus as we determine the level of interest in continuing it as a lay-led ministry. In the meantime, one of our parishioners leads two weekly small groups on Zoom: a “Pilgrims” group on Sunday afternoon, and a Bible study group on Thursday afternoon.
Children and young people attend weekly Sunday School classes (September-June) that include prayer and Godly Play, as well as service projects scattered throughout the ministry year.
A team of five adults, working in pairs, offer these classes during the Liturgy of the Word portion of the Holy Eucharist liturgy. Young people and teachers join worship during the Exchange of Peace, or stay in class for the duration of Morning Prayer services.
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FELLOWSHIP knits us together as a community.
PASTORAL CARE ensures that no one
walks alone in times of need.
Our fellowship ministry includes a sit-down Sunday morning coffee hour and a weekly drop-in “Brown Bag” lunch group. Special fellowship events include potluck lunches preceding all-parish meetings on Sundays, a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, Lenten suppers, and the All 4 Her Consignment Sales. All are occasions to share food, laughter, and companionship.
Our pastoral care ministry includes providing rides to church or appointments, meals for those who need them, and greeting cards to parishioners on behalf of our church community. The “St. Philip’s Connects” is an in-house email group that enables parishioners to check in with one another and/or to ask for prayer when there is a pastoral need.
OUTREACH is a hallmark of our life together in
Christian community at St. Philip’s.
Our lay-led ministries enable us to put our faith into action
in Easthampton and beyond.
We partner with three non-profit organizations in response to the growing issue of food insecurity in Hampshire County and beyond:
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Easthampton Community Center’s food pantry.
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Pioneer Valley Power Packs (PVPP), providing weekend meals for children.
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Take and Eat, providing weekend meals for adults.
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Our newly formed Social Justice Committee focuses its work in two areas: responding to food insecurity and ensuring the dignity of our undocumented neighbors. Rooted in the Baptismal Covenant, its members work regionally on both initiatives, keeping the parish aware of opportunities for active engagement.
Our streetside library and prayer box provides a place for those in the community to leave a prayer request (that is read during Sunday service) or to take home a book they find interesting.
During the past few years, St. Philip’s has offered its worship space for several cultural events open to the public. A dramatic reading of George Herbert’s “The Sacrifice,” the production of a parishioner’s original play, “Would You Like Angels with That?” and a screening of the film “The Philadelphia Eleven” followed by a panel discussion are a few examples.
Various community groups (12-step groups, Girl Scouts, toddler play groups) use our parish hall 7 days/week. The space has also been used by a local theater troupe, a group of art students, and a summer science camp.
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Seen as a comprehensive network of ministries, we hope this tells the story of a church that is prayerful, welcoming, and outward-facing – a congregation grounded in its faith and wanting to put it into action.
Our Property
The physical plant of St. Philip’s includes the church building and the parish hall, with a parking lot between the two structures. Accessible parking spaces are available. The church building has an accessible entrance, nave, and sanctuary, with reserved space in the nave seating area for people using mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters. The parish hall has a portable ramp used to make the main entrance accessible, and the meeting space on the first floor is accessible.
In August 2025, we worked with MassSave and a local contractor to insulate much of the parish hall, making it more energy efficient.
financial information
2026 Operating Budget:
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Projected income: $149,280 (74% pledge receipts, 14% plate/special offerings, 6% rental income, 5% investment income, 1% fundraising)
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Projected expenses: $149, 880 (63% clergy/lay compensation, 20% property upkeep/utilities, 8% diocesan assessment, 5% office administration, 3% program expenses, 1% miscellaneous expenses)
Checking account balance (as of July 2026): $54,011
Endowment value (as of June 2026): $264, 391
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In August 2025, the parish borrowed $7500 from the endowment to pay for the installation of a new sound system in the nave. By the end of 2025, parishioners had contributed $8300 to pay back the loan.
Other financial information:
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Our 2026 diocesan assessment, $12, 678, will be paid in full by the end of the fiscal year, as it has been for the past several years.
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St. Philip’s has no outstanding debt.
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In August 2026, the vestry approved the 2025 audit and filed it with the diocese.
Clergy compensation package:
In compliance with diocesan guidelines, the vestry is prepared to offer a total compensation package for half-time employment (20 hours/week) with a value of $60,000 to $70,000 (inclusive of cash salary, housing allowance, 50% of required payments for Social Security and Medicare, contribution to the Church Pension Fund, and contribution toward health insurance, if needed).
Gifts and Ministry of the Congregation
Empower
Growth
The laity of St. Philip’s have many and varied gifts that support the work of the church.
Worship
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Altar Guild, Choir, Crucifer/Verger, Lectors, Intercessors, Ushers, Greeters, and Tech Team members provide steady and dependable support for Sunday morning worship.
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On Holy Eucharist Sundays, three licensed Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist with the distribution of the sacrament.
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On Morning Prayer Sundays, one person serves as the officiant, with four others licensed to serve as preachers.
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Five people take turns leading on-line Compline services five evenings/week.
Formation
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One parishioner leads two weekly small adult discussion groups on Zoom.
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Five people trained as Godly Play teachers comprise the Sunday School teaching team.
Fellowship
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Two co-chairs recruit and train weekly coffee hour hosts and keep the kitchen stocked with supplies. Fourteen people currently take turns hosting Coffee Hour.
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One vestry member is responsible for managing other fellowship events during the year (potlucks, special receptions, etc.).
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One parishioner manages the Card Ministry.
Outreach partnerships
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Four members of the church serve on the board of Pioneer Valley Power Packs, the 501(c)3 headquartered at St. Philip’s. As many as 10 parishioners, along with others from the community of Easthampton, help with shopping, packing, and delivery to Mountain View School and Smith Vocational High School each week (September to June).
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Two parishioners co-chair our parish’s monthly involvement with Take and Eat, a nonprofit interfaith organization that prepares weekend meals for Meals-on-Wheels recipients in Easthampton. At least 15 members of the parish help with shopping, meal preparation, and delivery.
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Two parishioners volunteer at the Easthampton Community Center’s Food Pantry every week. Parishioners donate food for the pantry on Sundays. The children in our parish organize a Thanksgiving Food Drive and Christmas Gift Drive every year to benefit clients of the food pantry.
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Parishioners provide generous financial support for these programs.
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Eight parishioners serve on the Social Justice Committee, which supports these outreach partnerships, and strives to more fully understand the underlying causes of food insecurity.
Financial stewardship
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The parish treasurer works closely with a CPA to monitor our monthly balance sheet. He files a report with the vestry each month, and once accepted, this report is released to the parish.
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Our endowment is managed by the diocese. The Treasurer’s monthly reports include this information.
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The Finance Committee works with the Treasurer and the Senior Warden to develop the operating budget each year. This is approved by the vestry in advance of the annual meeting.
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The vestry appoints three parishioners to serve as an Audit Team each year. Once accepted by the vestry, the parish audit is filed with the diocese.
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A team of counters, working in pairs, records the offertory income each Sunday. The team leader provides a quarterly progress report to those pledging.
Stewardship of our property
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The Property Committee monitors and addresses needed repairs, either with in-house talent or with outside help. It also makes sure the grass is mowed in the summer, fall clean-up days are scheduled, and snow removal happens in a timely fashion in the winter.
Communication
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The Junior Warden manages our vibrant social media profile and works closely with the Parish Administrator to keep the website updated.
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Four editors work with the Parish Administrator each week to design the worship bulletin and our online newsletter, the N.O.W.
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We keep one another updated through “St. Philip’s Connects,” our in-house email group.
Governance/Administration
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The wardens meet each week with our clergy, our Minister of Music, and our Parish Administrator to monitor pastoral and program issues, maintain the calendar, and plan communication strategies.
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The vestry comprises six elected members of the parish. The officers of the vestry include the Senior and Junior Wardens, the Treasurer, and the Clerk.
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The parish adheres to the Constitution and By-laws of the diocese, paying particular attention to those canons pertaining to parish life and governance (Canons 16-21).
Gifts and Ministry of the Clergy
We hope to call a new priest who can help us strike a balance between continuity and change.
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While we are not resistant to innovation, we are not seeking a major break from the past. We seek a priest who will give devoted attention and leadership to St. Philip’s in the many endeavors to which we have committed ourselves. We seek a priest who is able to join us in this balancing act: continuing in ongoing successful ministries, while growing into new ones to which we may be called.
To sustain and nurture our current strengths, we want to engage in mutual ministry with a priest who…
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Knows and loves God and is grounded in prayer and a call to follow Jesus.
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Can lead worship and administer the sacraments with reverence, and work collaboratively with our Minister of Music and other lay ministers to enrich worship.
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Preaches sermons based on scripture that instruct, inspire, and relate to our daily lives.
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Will support our outreach partnerships in Easthampton.
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Is a faithful pastor, finding joy in personal and spiritual connections.
To move us forward, we seek a priest who can help us…
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Spread the word about what a vibrant church we are.
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Welcome and shepherd newcomers.
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Build a larger and more age-diverse congregation.
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Foster deeper spiritual formation across all age groups, especially for adults.
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Identify, mentor, and incorporate new lay leadership.
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Discern how best to use our gifts both in the church and beyond.
Our next priest will be humble and energetic, a good listener whose non-judgmental presence, humor, joy, and vibrant life in Christ will help others feel seen, supported, and drawn closer to God.
Challenge us. With God’s help, we can handle hard things. Come and see!
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We welcome your interest in this ministry with us. Please contact the Canon to the Ordinary, The Rev. Heather Blais, to learn more: HBlais@diocesewma.org.​
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To develop the Parish Profile, the committee met with parishioners for small group discussions.
Here are some voices from the parishioners at St Philip’s:
We’re expected to live our faith throughout the week, not just on Sunday.
At St. Philip’s, everyone has a different skill set to add, and no matter what that is, it is respected and valued.
There’s a balance between what is going on devotionally and what is going on as outreach. Our food ministries have always been very active, and they've become much more so.
We're a destination church. You might have to travel to get here, but a lot of people do.
We’re here because we've got gifts to offer. Take and Eat is a big deal. Power Packs is a big deal. I’m putting my resources into those ministries because, for me, that's the way to be a Christian: serve your neighbors.
After we moved here, we drove by this church all the time, and finally my husband said, "I'm going to try that little brown church.” Well, we never looked further.
Anything that comes up in the community – people in this parish just pour their hearts and souls out.
There are some pretty cool things going on here
I think our location on Main Street is an asset. How we capitalize on that is really important.
How can we reach people with the message that worship can change their lives? Once you get to know Jesus, once you get to understand what God is inviting us to do, and become, it changes the way you live your life.
There are opportunities to do better at integrating newcomers into the life of our church.
The first time I came here, I had decided to stay only one Sunday. 15 years later, here I am.
A lot of us are doing multiple things, and it can be too much sometimes. So, I think getting more members is necessary.
We need to be much more overt about what wonderful things are happening here.
I think everybody here is so loving and giving, that how can I be less?
I don't think I've ever been in a community like this in my life. Although church is on Sunday, I feel it every day, and from the very first Sunday I arrived, I felt so welcomed.
We’ve stayed because the liturgy resonates with us, as does the focus and commitment to the greater community, as well as the St. Philip's community itself.
Being here means a lot to me - the quality of the support, the quality of the preaching, the awareness of social justice issues.
We have a really wonderful choir – not only voices, but personalities -- people who really get along and have grown with each other, have grown musically.
The welcome in this church is extraordinary.