On Church Street in the Borough of Phoenixville, the red doors of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church open onto a parish that has shaped, and been shaped by, the town around it for more than 170 years. From the cornerstone laid in 1840 by Benjamin Reeves, David Reeves, and Joseph Whitaker, to the day in 2019 when The Reverend Samuel Kirabi Ndungu was called as the parish's nineteenth rector, Saint Peter's has stayed rooted in the same block of Phoenixville while reaching well beyond it. The parish is in communion with the worldwide Anglican Communion, part of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and is known for two things in particular: a long-running partnership with the Cristosal human rights organization in Central America, and a daily lunch program that has fed the Phoenixville community for years. Around those commitments, Saint Peter's has built a full life of Eucharistic worship, a robust choir and concert tradition, an active environmental justice program, and a children's ministry that introduces the youngest members of the parish to scripture through Godly Play.
A Building and a Borough Woven Together
Saint Peter's original Victorian church building had its main entrance on Prospect Street, and on December 5, 1852, that building was consecrated. The current sanctuary was built in stages between 1900 and 1932, with the new structure gradually replacing the old. The chancel, built in the medieval Gothic style, was constructed in memory of Margaret Handy Reeves by her son Samuel J. Reeves. Inlaid in the chancel floor is a large bronze memorial cross, and inside it sits a smaller marble cross, a gift to Saint Peter's from Queen Victoria, taken from the ruins in Hastings, England. The construction shifted the parish's main entrance from Prospect Street to Church Street, where it has been ever since.
In 1906, work began on the George Nattress-designed parish house, built in a U-shape around the chancel to create the enclosed Cloister Garden that still sits between the structures today. This expansion was a memorial from Samuel J. Reeves to his wife. The cornerstone of the present nave was laid in 1931, and during that major rebuilding the congregation worshipped in what is now St. Margaret's Hall in the parish house. The sanctuary reflects the Oxford or high-church movement prominent in the early twentieth century: a large crowstop gable, double pointed buttresses flanking a pointed arch stained glass window with cinquefoil and pointed arch tracery, and a recessed doorway with ornate ornamentation. The nave windows were installed in 1946 by the Willet Studios of Philadelphia, and the windows in the Lady Chapel were designed by Meyer, a German stained glass studio. Every window in the sanctuary and Lady Chapel tells a story.
The relationship between the parish and the Borough of Phoenixville is the subject of a story often told at Saint Peter's. In her speech "Reminiscences" at the 1938 centennial, Susan F. Vanderslice compared then-rector Rev. William H. Anthony to Moses, and recalled Aaron and Hur keeping Moses' hands steady until the going down of the sun. The same image is used today to describe Saint Peter's continuing readiness to help support Phoenixville whenever the town's "hands" begin to feel heavy.
Sunday Worship on Church Street
Worship is at the heart of congregational life at Saint Peter's, and the weekly joyful celebration is centered on the Eucharist. On Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Patronal Sunday, and All Saints' Sunday, the parish celebrates the Eucharist with incense and bells. During the program year, from the Sunday after Labor Day through June, two Sunday services are offered. The 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist is a quiet, prayerful service that lasts about half an hour and has the feel of a chapel service. At 9:00 a.m. the Sunday Morning Bible Study meets in the Lady Chapel, led by Craig Tavani, with one of the clergy always on hand to offer guidance. At 10:00 a.m. the principal service of the day gathers, with organ and choir, lectors and chalicers, acolytes and ushers, all coordinated by a worship team of volunteers who meet regularly to plan ahead.
From July through Labor Day the schedule shifts. The 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist continues, and the second service begins at 9:30 a.m. rather than 10:00, with music. Every fourth Sunday of the program year, with the exception of July and August, the 10:00 a.m. service is Youth-led. Coffee hour in Smith Fellowship Hall follows the late service every Sunday, and newcomers are given a welcome bag and are encouraged to sign the guest book in the narthex.
Most services consist of spoken prayers, sung hymns and anthems, lessons from the Bible, a sermon, the sharing of the peace, and Communion. The bulletin guides visitors through each step, and the blue 1982 Hymnal, the red LEVAS, and the green WLP Hymnal are in the pews. All are welcome to join in Communion at the Lord's Table regardless of faith tradition. The 10:00 a.m. service is livestreamed on YouTube, and a sermon video archive stretches back many years, with recordings posted every Sunday.
Father Sam's ministry at Saint Peter's, which began December 1, 2019, is grounded in pastoral care. In his own words, he strives not to be a "by-stander" as he ministers to others, brings his deep faith in God's love and presence, and journeys with people in their pain. The Reverend Andrea C. Gardner became the parish's deacon in February 2026, following the retirement of Deacon Joe Dietz, who had served Saint Peter's for thirty-one years. Joe can still be seen helping out in various capacities, and the parish's retired priest David Hyatt continues to be part of the community.
A Partnership Across Central America: Cristosal
Saint Peter's has enjoyed a partnership with the Cristosal Foundation since 2007, longer than any other U.S. friend and supporting church. Cristosal is a non-governmental organization based in El Salvador that advances human rights in Central America through rights-based programming, research, and learning. Its executive director, Noah Bullock, is recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a leading advocate in the region. Saint Peter's supports Cristosal in several ways: an annual fundraiser, frequent communication with Cristosal staff, and weekly prayer for Noah and his team. Members of the parish have traveled to El Salvador as participants in Cristosal's week-long Global School experience, walking in solidarity with the Salvadoran people, learning their stories, and sharing their pain.
In March 2024, Noah Bullock was an invited stakeholder at Vice President Kamala Harris's Central America Forward roundtable at the White House, where he spoke about Cristosal's work and the impact of violence and displacement on communities in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Saint Peter's hosted Bullock and Bishop Daniel Gutierrez for a fundraising dinner on October 12, 2024. During his remarks, the bishop said that "simply being with our neighbors" is what Jesus asked of his disciples, and pledged $10,000 from his own discretionary funds toward the parish's $20,000 to $30,000 annual goal. The Cristosal ministry at Saint Peter's is led by Cindy Hammaker.
Meals That Bring Phoenixville Together
Service to the community of Phoenixville has been a constant at Saint Peter's for more than 170 years, and the meal ministries are some of the most visible expressions of that work. Saint Peter's hosts the daily Phoenixville Ecumenical Lunch Program, Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Two of the rotating teams are from Saint Peter's, and meals are prepared for individuals who would otherwise not have nourishment. All meals are provided at no cost, and all are welcome. The lunches are distributed in take-out bags from the church parking lot; the volunteer teams are not staffed to host and monitor the dining space.
On Saturday mornings, the Breakfast Ministry serves a full, hot breakfast in the social hall year-round. Two teams are made up of Saint Peter's parishioners, and two partner teams are drawn from at-large community members. The breakfast is offered in a calm, quiet atmosphere where everyone is welcomed, valued, and given a sense of community; it is especially appreciated by elderly neighbors, those experiencing food insecurity, and homeless persons.
Saint Peter's also supports St. Mary's Franciscan Shelter in Phoenixville, which serves families who have become homeless. Parishioners cook dinners for the residents for two separate weeks of the year, preparing enough food for twenty people including children. The meals do not need to be fancy; a simple, nutritious meal one would feed one's own family is the standard. This ministry is led by Natalie Famous. The partnership with Appalachia Service Project is another long-standing mission. Saint Peter's fifth and most recent trip, in August 2023, sent nine youth and six adults to Jonesville, Virginia, for a week of service, with one team building a safe-access ramp and the other completing a kitchen installation. In January 2024, three Saint Peter's youth were selected to attend a Youth Leadership Summit at the ASP site.
Children, Youth, and the Godly Play Circle
At Saint Peter's, children are at the center of Christian spiritual life, and the programs designed for them reflect that. Godly Play is offered for children age 3 (able to say goodbye at the classroom door, toilet trained, and able to sit for a story) through grade 5. The Montessori-based curriculum tells the Biblical story in its purest form, face to face and heart to heart, using beautiful hands-on materials and simple, clear language. A Godly Play session includes time to settle into listening silence, experience a wonder-filled Biblical story with all five senses, personally explore the story with rich classroom materials, and enjoy a simple snack. The Godly Play classroom meets in the Father Fifer Room off Smith Hall at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday service during the program year; children join their parents in the nave before Communion so that the whole family can experience the altar rail together. Packs of coloring books, crayons, and soft toys are available in the narthex for children who would like to borrow something during the service.
For older children, the Youth Group is a lively program for those in grades 6 through 12. Following the Journey to Adulthood curriculum, the youth gather in three groups by grade, taught by a committed group of adults, and grounded in three fundamentals: Christian formation, service, and fun. The youth serve within the church, including with the food pantry and other outreach, and outside the community, including through the Appalachia Service Project. The Youth Group meets every other Sunday evening during the academic year. All of the children and youth programs at Saint Peter's are led by Katie Druckenmiller, Director of Family Ministries.
Music at Saint Peter's
Music is a central part of life at Saint Peter's, drawing on the rich Anglican choral tradition and music from a variety of other cultures. The Adult Choir, composed of adults and high school students, rehearses at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings and gathers for additional rehearsals around Holy Days and festivals. The Treble Choir, made up of elementary school-aged students in grades 1 through 6, meets at various times following the 10:00 a.m. service and Sunday School during the program year. The choirs are directed by Carol Cei, who joined Saint Peter's in July 2025 after the departure of Derek Maninfior, who had served for seven years. The parish plays a 1980 Austin Pipe Organ II/24. The music at Saint Peter's has been praised in recent years; the 2023 Christmas Eve service featured Benjamin Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols" as a prelude, with solos by Marty Bloem, Liz Faranda, and Emma Martz, and choral work from across the choir.
Before the pandemic, Saint Peter's also hosted a community concert series, with guest artists ranging from classical guitarist Brad Rau and the folk-Americana band Under the Oak to trumpeter John Maurer, guitarist Dan Pell, and instrumentalist Trevor Gordon Hall. The series was funded entirely by donations and free-will offerings, with concerts held at 4:00 p.m. The parish has also participated in ecumenical choral events with neighboring churches, including the annual St. John's Choir and Friends Concert in Phoenixville.
Stewardship of Creation: Environmental Ministry and Sprout Reach
Saint Peter's Environmental Ministry grounds itself in the language of Job 12, asking the animals, the birds, the plants, and the fish of the sea to teach. The ministry aims to deepen the parish's personal relationship with creation through Earth Day activities, family summer camping trips, Saint Francis family services, and a Sunday summer children's program. It encourages a sustainable church home through recycling, earth-friendly cleaning products, garden composting, and reductions in the church's carbon footprint. It provides opportunities for community action through environmental action workshops, composting classes, Ember Day clean-up walks, and food resources harvested and donated from the community raised-bed gardens.
Out of this environmental work has grown Sprout Reach, the parish's outreach-focused environmental justice initiative. Guided by the motto "What Grows Around," Sprout Reach creates hands-on opportunities for people of all ages to engage with nature through backyard birding, nature journaling, family-friendly community events, youth programming, native plant and pollinator education, citizen science participation, and hands-on environmental education. Although headquartered in the Borough of Phoenixville, the educational programs and partnerships extend throughout the greater Philadelphia region. Sprout Reach's first Backyard Nature Learning Lab is being developed in the Cloister Garden at Saint Peter's, transforming the existing space into a communal backyard sanctuary with bird-friendly habitats, native pollinator gardens, nature journaling activities, and STEM nature observation tools.
Sprout Reach hosted the inaugural Flocktoberfest on World Migratory Bird Day in October 2025, a free, family-friendly community celebration of Phoenixville's Bird Town Pennsylvania designation. Partners on the event included Valley Forge Audubon Society, Bird Town Pennsylvania, the Indian Run Environmental Education Center (with live ambassador raptors), the Phoenixville Green Team, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center, and the Canadian Tuxedo duo, who launched the "Singing Songbird" music series at the event. Saint Peter's also served as a free community hub for the Phoenixville Summer Garden Tour 2026, with a native plant sale by Behmerwald Nursery, nature journaling demonstrations, and information from Valley Forge Audubon Society and Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light. The Environmental Ministry at Saint Peter's is led by Jolie Chylack.
Parish Life: Coffee Hour, Helping Hands, and Pastoral Care
The fellowship of Saint Peter's is woven into the rhythm of the week. Coffee Hour in Smith Fellowship Hall follows the late service every Sunday, with a variety of refreshments and a chance to meet friends old and new. Helping Hands, an in-reach ministry founded in 2010 and now grown to about twenty-five members, offers loving support to parishioners dealing with illness, a new baby, the loss of a loved one, or any other challenge; the group provides meals, cards, words of encouragement, and social gatherings. The Pastoral Care Ministry keeps homebound parishioners in touch with the community during infirmity or absence, with visits, deliveries of communion, birthday cards, weekly bulletins, and newsletters. The ministry is led by Lisa Scott.
The parish has many other fellowship activities throughout the year. The Daughters of the King host a tea party for the women and girls of the parish, complete with tea sandwiches, scones, memorabilia, and a great variety of hats. The gardening team, led by Karen Reid, develops and maintains the gardens and flora surrounding the church, including the Cloister Garden, Maggie's Garden, and the Pollinator Garden, with about a dozen members meeting Saturday mornings in April, May, June, September, and October. Recent work has included the makeover of the front garden with winterberry, false cypress, and vinca ground cover; the renovation of the Cloister Garden with transplanted boxwoods, azaleas, and crepe myrtles; and the screening of new air conditioning condensers from street view with plantings.
Sacraments and Life Events
Saint Peter's welcomes all the sacraments of the Episcopal Church. Baptisms are generally celebrated on Easter Vigil, Pentecost, All Saints' Day (or the Sunday after), and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, and may also be carried out by the bishop at his or her visitation. Adults interested in baptism, and parents who wish to have their children baptized, attend church regularly and attend a baptism preparation class prior to the service. Confirmation is the mature affirmation of one's Christian faith and commitment to the Church, and Baptized adults (unless baptized by the Bishop) are also expected to prepare for confirmation by taking classes. The Confirmation Service includes Reception (for those confirmed in another denomination) and Reaffirmation (for those wishing to renew their earlier commitment).
Marriage at Saint Peter's is understood as the blessing of the solemn and public covenant of two individuals making a lifelong monogamous commitment in the presence of God. The sanctuary's stained glass windows and Victorian architecture offer an ideal setting, and the building is made available for weddings to non-members as well. The liturgy for funerals is an Easter liturgy, finding all its meaning in the resurrection, characterized by joy in the certainty that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord; the grief of those who mourn is met with deep sympathy. The Book of Common Prayer, first published in 1549, is the source of the parish's liturgical prayer; the Sunday Eucharist uses Rite 2. The Vestry, led by Senior Warden Judi Hans and Accounting Warden Dennis Reid, includes representatives drawn from across the parish's life.
Visiting Saint Peter's
Saint Peter's is located one block from Bridge Street in Phoenixville, near the Chester and Montgomery County border, and is easily accessible from Routes 422, 29, 23, and 113. Visitors arriving by car will find five places to park, including the church parking lot (20 cars, just before the church on Church Street), the Senior Center and St. Anne's lot (40 cars, with a voluntary donation requested), the St. Peter's Place lot, the Holy Ghost Church lot on the east side of Starr Street, and a new public lot near the Senior Center. Street parking is also available on both sides of Church Street on Sundays. The red doors at the Church Street entrance are the main entry; there is also a universal access entrance from the parking lot, and the parish has invested in a new ADA ramp. Newcomers are greeted at the door, given a Sunday bulletin, and offered a name tag provided by Richard Green. Dress at Saint Peter's is mostly casual or business casual; about ten percent of parishioners wear a suit and tie or dress up, and more dress up at Christmas and Easter. Children of all ages are welcome, and parents will not feel embarrassed if a baby cries or a toddler explores the aisles. A weekly email, the Weekly Dispatch, keeps subscribers connected to the parish's life between Sundays.