The Chaplain of the First Fleet, was the Rev Richard Johnson and he conducted the first Christian service in Australia on 3 February 1788.

The wattle and daub church built by Johnson in 1793 was burnt down in 1798. A new stone church named St Philip's was opened in 1810, and this was replaced by the current building in 1856. Captain Philip's second in command, and the third Governor of New South Wales, Phillip Gidley King had proclaimed the Parish in 1802.

As the original Parish Church of the City of Sydney, St. Philip's has seen the city grow for over two centuries.
The Original St. Philip's was a wattle and daub chapel built at what is now the corner of Bligh and Hunter Streets. It was in this building that Australia's first Christian service in a building took place on 25th August 1793.
A T-shaped building, with a thatched roof and an earthen floor, it could seat 500. During the week it served as a schoolhouse where the Reverend Richard Johnson, the colonial chaplain, and his wife, Mary, taught between 150 and 200 children.

On the evening of 1st October 1798 this chapel was burnt down. Later that month the Governor, John Hunter, initiated work on a substantial stone church on land at Church Hill in what is now Lang Park, just across the road from the present church.

On 1st October 1800, prior to his being sworn in as the new Governor, Captain Philip Gidley King laid the foundation stone on what was to become the first St Philip's. In 1802 he proclaimed Australia's first two parishes as St Philip's (Sydney) and St John's (Parramatta).
'Old' St Philip's served Sydney from 1798 until March 1856 when the present church was consecrated.

Education became a State responsibility in 1880 however St Philip's continued the work commenced by Richard and Mary Johnson in the wattle and daub chapel. St Philip's Church School opened in 1812. As well, the church commenced 'ragged schools' for orphans and in 1845 an evening school for young men. St Philip's Grammar School opened in 1850.

The original church also become the first church building to be lit by gaslight in Australia in 1841.

1873 saw the arrival of a new organ,and 1890 saw great renovations at St Philip's. Pews were modernised and the chancel and aisles tiled, at the same time the current pulpit and reading desk were installed along with a Gothic reredos.

The tower has ten bells. The original peal of eight was donated by the Hon. John Campbell in 1872, a ninth bell was added in 1888 to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Colony of NSW. The tenth being installed 1898 in remembrance of Charles Moore.

More detail on St Phillips