He moved to the United States in 1870 and became a lay reader at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Manhattan before enrolling in the Philadelphia Divinity School in 1872.

Baptized as a Roman Catholic and raised and confirmed as a Moravian, Phillips was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church in 1875 by Bishop William Bacon Stevens.

[7] Phillips organized numerous social welfare programs to support poor parishioners, homeless people, and prisoners.

He also organized numerous social activities, including singing societies, youth clubs, lecture courses, and early childhood education at the parish house.

[4] Phillips was the only Black member of Philadelphia's Vice Commission, where he advocated for harsher criminal penalties, including forced labor for pickpockets and gamblers and flogging for procurers.

Du Bois described Phillips as "a man of sincerity and culture and of peculiar energy" who demonstrated skill with raising funds and other support for Black charitable causes amid the wealthy white community of Philadelphia.

"[1] Historian Charles L. Blockson called Phillips "one of the most important African American ministers that Pennsylvania has produced.

"[2] Circa 1876, Phillips married Sarah “Sallie” Elizabeth Cole, scion of a distinguished Black family whose members attended St. Thomas where he was rector.