St. Philip’s congregation began as Grace Lutheran Church, which met in storefronts starting in 1903. In 1927, the congregation was renamed to St. Philip’s when it built its first permanent structure in The Ville neighborhood, St. Louis’s historic center of Black culture. The Ville was home to key institutions including one of few Black teaching hospitals in the U.S., and the first high school for Black students west of the Mississippi River, which still operates today. In the 1960s, the congregation discussed moving locations, but instead reaffirmed their commitment to the neighborhood and erected a new building. The current 1966 Midcentury Modern structure was designed by Charles E. Fleming, who was the first African American to graduate from Washington University’s architecture program and established the first Black-owned architecture firm in Missouri. Today, the congregation partners with local organizations including the Urban League on a weekly meal and The Empowerment Network on supporting Black men battling prostate cancer.

In May 2025, a powerful tornado hit St. Louis, causing over $1 billion in property damage and impacting almost 5,000 buildings. St. Philip’s served as a hub for relief efforts, distributing supplies to over 300 families and three churches. After the tornado, the roof began leaking extensively, causing significant water damage inside the building. The insurance company denied St. Philip’s claim, but also required the roof to be replaced to keep their insurance policy. 

An Intervention Fund grant of $100,000 will help the church replace the roof, repair interior damage, and complete a building conditions assessment to identify any additional damage and plan for long-term preservation of the building.