With praise and thanksgiving, St. Philip the Evangelist Episcopal Church, located at 2800 Stanford Ave. in Los Angeles, will mark its 112th anniversary with a celebratory day of worship, song, music and dancing.
Members, friends and family of St. Philip’s are invited to gather for a special morning worship service in English and Spanish on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, from 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a coffee hour in the Chapel.
The celebratory anniversary luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Canon LaRue E. Shepard Hall of the Parish House. A jazz band, Mexican guitar music and inspirational speakers will enliven the afternoon. The donation is $40.
“St. Philip’s can trace its earliest worship services to 1907. It became the first African American congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and today at 112 years old, is believed to be the oldest, historically African American parish still standing west of the Mississippi River,” said the Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Libby.
The church building has stood at its current location since its dedication on June 23, 1928 and many who worship here, remember those early days and are working just as hard today to augment the legacy.”
The church was named a Cultural Historic Monument in 2010 and the by the Los Angeles City Council designated the corner of 28th St. and Stanford Ave. as Tuskegee Square in honor of Bill Terry, a St. Philip’s member and a Tuskegee Airman. A decorative brick wall is planned to commemorate the contributions of many notable people who have called St. Philip’s their home since its founding.
Still actively meeting the needs of the community, St. Philip operates a food pantry, provides home-cooked meals to the homeless, and engages young people in music.
For tickets to the event and information about this service and other services, call (323) 232-3494.
