The Revd John Phillips RIP

With sadness I pass along the news to the diocesan family of the death of the Revd John Phillips. Fr John retired from parochial ministry in the diocese of Peterborough in 1995. He settled near Alcossebre in Spain, and in retirement laid the foundation for what is now a flourishing parish in the Costa Azahar. Fr John died on the evening of 3 March at his home in Wellingborough, Northants where he had recently returned with his wife Judith to be near their family.


I first made contact with Fr John in September 2003 when he came to see me to discuss his vision for new work in this part of Spain where which was miles from any existing Church of England congregation, the nearest being in Costa Blanca to the south or Barcelona to the north. Through his work and personal generosity, the congregation of St Christopher was established. His pioneering work now has grown to include three congregations on the Costa Azahar, St Christopher's Alcossebre, with its two daughter congregations, one in Vinarós and another in L'Ampolla.

Fr John suffered with Parkinson´s disease for a number of years yet, this did not deter him from his pioneering work and his pastoral concern for the building up of a new congregation. He established many fruitful ecumenical contacts which have continued to this day.

It is likely that a memorial service will be held in Alcossebre to coincide with John´s funeral in the UK when more details are known.

The priest-in-charge of St Christopher’s in Costa Azahar, the Revd Paul Needle, asks for our prayers of thanks to God for John’s long and fruitful ministry, that he may now rest in peace. Your prayers are also asked for Judith and the family who mourn their loss.

The website for the congregations in Costa Azahar is here.