Philip's family moved to Manchester when he was a child and he attended St Bede's College, a Catholic grammar school in that city.

Pargeter was appointed auxiliary bishop of Birmingham on 20 November 1989, and ordained to the episcopate on 21 February 1990 in St Chad's Cathedral: the principal consecrator was Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville, assisted by Bishops Gray and Burke.

In accordance with Canon law, he submitted his resignation to the Pope on his 75th birthday, although it was not accepted at that time.

A Golden Jubilee Mass of his priestly ordination was celebrated in the Metropolitan Cathedral & Basilica of St Chad on 6 May 2009.

Pargeter retired as Auxiliary Bishop in 2009,[2] and his resignation was accepted on 31 July that year.