Phillips Church

A history of worship

All of Exeter’s rich and varied interfaith communities have a place to worship and seek peace and serenity in Phillips Church. Standing on the corner of Front Street, near the Academy Building, this multi-faith center has been a hub for spiritual life on campus for more than a century.

Erected in 1895, Phillips Church underwent an ambitious renovation around its hundred birthday to ensure the venerable building was meeting contemporary needs. The goal was to be as concerned with the needs of a seeker of faith as it is with the practice of a follower of any particular religion.

The renovation, completed in 2002, added versatile and relevant spaces to the main chapel. That includes a Muslim prayer room and a puja room, for Hindu prayers. In 2011, the school dedicated an ark, now holding two Torah scrolls, and there are spaces for Buddhist meditation, as well. Beyond religious worship, the space welcomes the community weekly for a tradition called meditation, in which Exeter takes a collective exhale to listen to an extended personal essay written by a student, faculty member or staff.