Our History:
St. Philip’s Church, Marysville, was organized as a parochial mission under the sponsorship of Trinity Everett, in the summer of 1958. The church was under the guidance of the Rev. Gordon Lind, rector of Trinity.
The first service was held in the basement of the Masonic Temple on Sunday, September 7, 1958 with the Rev. John Pennell officiating. Fr. Lind was priest-in-charge. On December 3, 1958, a class of 24 candidates was confirmed by the Rt. Rev. Stephen Bayne, Jr. The church officially became “Saint Philip’s” in May of 1959.
The Rev. Ivan Merrick became Trinity’s rector in the spring of 1960. Following his ordination in 1961, Brian Nurding, a curate at Trinity began filling in at St. Philip’s.
In February of 1962, the Rev. Thomas Dobson was assigned as the first vicar and St. Philip’s changed from a parochial mission to a diocesan mission. Shortly thereafter, St. Philip’s became the seat of the “Stillaguamish Mission Field,” and area including Arlington, Darrington, Camano Island, Rockport and Newhalem. To assist Fr. Dobson, three lay readers were trained to do Morning Prayer for the outlying missions. In August, the Rev. George Wilson joined Tom Dobson in caring for the Mission Field.
During this time, the church moved twice. First into a funeral home, and then into a vacated Roman Catholic Church. Ground-breaking for the present church took place in August of 1967. The building was completed and the first service was held on May 12, 1968. The formal dedication ceremonies, conducted by the Rt. Rev. Ivol I. Curtis, took place on September 10, 1968, the 10th anniversary of the founding of St. Philip’s Church.
The Rev. Charles Forbes arrived in 1971, after having served in Uruguay. The Episcopal Church was changing radically and Fr. Forbes helped guide the Marysville church through a difficult period. The Rev. Clinton Raymond succeeded him in 1979, to be followed by the Rev. Michael Jarvis in 1986. Father Jarvis continued as Vicar until his retirement in the summer of 1997.
The Rev. Thomas Minifie was called as St. Philip’s priest-in-charge in October of 1997, and in November of 1998 he was called to be St. Philip’s first rector, as St. Philip’s became a parish in the Diocese of Olympia after 40 years as a mission.
Over the years, St. Philip’s has been a generous congregation. The church has supported Romanian refugees, continues to support a Haitian child, and gives considerable financial support to local area outreach ministries. St. Philip’s has been and is again becoming an energetic, vibrant witness for Christ to the community.
Rev. Minifie resigned in the fall of 2003 and The Rev. Robert E. Dunn was called to serve as the Priest in Charge during this time of transition.
The Rev Dunn completed his assignment as Priest in charge on October 2004 and passed the reigns to The Rev. Mary Allen. In November 2008 St. Philip’s celebrated 50 Years of Ministry with a Celebration and visit from our Diocesan Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel.
The Rev. Mary Allen accepted another call in the fall of 2011.
The Rev. Terry Kyllo was appointed Priest-In-Charge in 2012 and was elected rector in April of 2014.
The Rev. Canon Rebecca Kirkpatrick was elected in March 2017.
The Rev. Dawn Campbell Foisie was elected and began serving half-time (20 hrs/wk) as rector in September 2019.
The word “rector” comes from the same word as “director” and means someone who leads or orchestrates a group of people.
Clergy:
1958-1959 Gordon Lind (Priest in Charge)
1960-1962 Ivan E. Merrick, Jr. (Vicar)
1962-1970 Thomas Dobson (Vicar)
1971-1978 Charles Forbes (Vicar)
1979-1985 Clinton Raymond (Vicar)
1986-1997 Michael Jarvis (Vicar)
1997-1998 Thomas Minifie (Priest in Charge)
1998-2003 Thomas Minifie (Rector)
2003-2004 Robert E. Dunn (Priest in Charge)
2004-2005 Mary Allen (Priest in Charge)
2005-2011 Mary Allen (Rector)
2012 -2014 Terry Kyllo (Priest in Charge)
2014 to 2017 Terry Kyllo (Rector)
2017 to 2019 Rebecca Kirkpatrick (Rector)
2019 to Present Dawn Campbell Foisie (Rector)