[3] He served two curacies at Yorkshire parishes,[4] and then became a vicar, additionally joining the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) as a chaplain during World War II, eventually becoming Director of Service Ordinands.
When peace came he was appointed the general secretary of the Churches' Council of Training for the Ministry, then Archdeacon of Nottingham.
In 1960 his nomination to be the Bishop of Portsmouth was approved by the Queen;[5] his election was confirmed at St Mary-le-Bow on 24 March.
[8][9] Phillips resigned his bishopric in 1975 owing to ill health, and took a post running a small rural parish church in Dorset.
From 1974 to 1978 he held the leading role of Provincial Grand Master responsible for all lodges in the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight,[12] following a grand investiture ceremony at Portsmouth Guildhall conducted by William Cadogan, 7th Earl Cadogan on 20 September 1974.