Rector's Note: Ten Years Later, A Loving Legacy - 10.23.25

In spring of 2026, we will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the joining of St. Philip-in-the-Fields with St. Peter’s, Glenside. The Oreland church, which got its start as a daughter parish of St. Peter’s, closed its doors and turned its property back over to the diocese in 2016 after determining that with a shrinking congregation, the parish could not be sustained into the future.

The joining of the parishes predates my arrival, but I can say that everywhere I look I see signs of the fruit of this union. The chapel is adorned with the beautiful altar pieces that were in the St. Philip’s chapel. Pictures, such as a large one of the rose window, grace our walls. Former St. Philip’s members often share beloved stories about their former parish with me, as well as insights from its history, as they continue to bring their gifts fully to this community

Recently, we learned that St. Peter’s will be the beneficiary of another gift that St. Philip’s, in its closing plans 10-years ago, assured that we would receive. At the time the parish leadership asked the diocese to ensure that 50 percent of the proceeds from the eventual sale of the St. Philip’s buildings would go to St. Peter’s.

Last week, the diocese closed on the sale of the property, which allows me to share the news with the rest of you.  St. Peter’s will be receiving $127,746 as its share.

The bulk of the money from the $1 million sale went to reimburse the Diocese for its upkeep and investment in the buildings over the last 10 years (expenses totaling more than $700,000) as the diocese tried to find a way to use the plant for ministry. Unsurprisingly, it was thwarted by Oreland's zoning laws. With the sale of the building, however, the request that St. Peter's receive its portion of the sale has gone into effect.  We are expected to receive this windfall before November. The Vestry will then discern how best to use the funds.

Since the bishop first notified us of the sale, I have had several conversations with former St. Philip’s parishioners who were in leadership at the time. Charlie Hannum was rector’s warden at St. Philip’s. John Klarman was head of finance. Sue Gordon oversaw the transfer of parish items to St. Peter’s. Jeanné Hannum was parish administrator. They have helped me understand better the process that went into placing the title to the property back into the hands of the diocese when St. Philip’s joined with St. Peter’s, and what their wishes were for the building after that.

On a recent Thursday, Charlie, Sue, John and I walked through St. Philip’s buildings with Doug Horner, canon for finance and administration. We were invited to take anything that we wanted from the space, which was largely empty. Items such as hymnals, church pews, and kitchen appliances will be gladly used by the church that has purchased the space. We selected just a few small things: A Bible inscribed with St. Philip-in-the-Fields and some hand-stitched linens. We also snapped some photographs, and asked Doug lots of questions about the sale of the property and the understandings that were in place a decade ago. A full report on this can be found in the minutes folder from the October 14 Vestry meeting.

The property was purchased by the Bridge Community Church, which is a member of the Liberti Communion, a group of small evangelical churches in PA and New Jersey. The church has been renting space in the area, and this is its first permanent home.  

In 2026 we will be planning ways to celebrate the tenth anniversary of St. Philip’s joining with St. Peter’s.  Right now, I and the Vestry remain extremely thankful to the St. Philip’s community for adding this financial gift to their wishes a decade ago. And we continue to cherish the relationship that has blossomed in that time, as well.