Pastor William F. Wingard of Christ Lutheran Church in Columbia, South Carolina, accepted the call on November 1, 1955, from the Board of American Missions to come to Myrtle Beach as a Mission Developer. St. Philip Lutheran Church was officially organized on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 1956, with sixty-five (65) confirmed and thirty (30) child members. Following the congregation’s organization, Pastor Wingard was officially called as the church’s first pastor. Initially the congregation held services in the Myrtle Beach High School Cafetorium.

Myrtle Beach Farms, Inc. generously donated to the congregation a portion of property between 62nd and 63rd Avenues on Highway 17. However, it required negotiations on the part of the church to obtain the adjoining property and provide the church with the entire block for future growth and expansion.

On July 20, 1958, ground was broken at the new site for the construction of the first unit of St. Philip Lutheran Church. The new facility was designed by Myrtle Beach architect, Harold Riddle, and constructed by Archie Dargan of Dargan Construction. At the time Paul Wendler, General Chairman of the Building Committee, indicated the total structure, including fixtures, would require an expenditure of $98,000 dollars. The new building contained a seating capacity of 290, and included eight classrooms, kitchen, Pastor’s study, utility rooms and restrooms. In August, 1966, ground was broken for a second addition that provided additional classrooms and storage area at a cost of $40,000.

In August of 1975, the congregation renovated the church sanctuary. The renovation consisted of new wall coverings, windows, lighting fixtures, carpeting, pews with kneelers and new chancel furniture. Expansion also included the construction of a large fellowship hall. The total program cost was in excess of $185,000. George Weber served as Building Committee Chairman for this unit of construction.

The service of ground breaking occurred on Sunday, June 6, 1976, and the service of rededication occurred on Sunday, May 22, 1977. Pastor William Wingard, having suffered a heart attack on Monday, May 16, 1977, was unable to attend the rededication. The Reverend Paulwyn L. Bolick, Secretary of the Lutheran Synod of South Carolina presided at the rededication.

For the church’s 25th Anniversary a new Schulmerich carillon was installed. The Schulmerick System included hour tolls throughout the week, musical selections at special hours and occasions. The 25-bell keyboard can be heard inside as well as outside the church. The four large speakers are housed in a belfry constructed atop the Fellowship Hall. The chimes cost $10,000 plus the cost of the belfry. On December 18, 1983, needlepoint cushions handcrafted by several women of the congregation were dedicated.

In 1983 several staff changes marked the congregation’s life. The Reverend Richard Albert was called as Associate Pastor and Cindy Moore was approved by the Lutheran Church of America as a Certified Lay Professional in Church Administration.

In May of 1987 Pastor Wingard retired and Pastor Albert was called as Pastor. In October, 1987, Irvin R. Dohner, a Certified Lay Professional, was called as Director of Music and Christian Education.

The last major addition to our church plant was the Rogers Oxford 925 Electronic/Pipe Combination Organ installed in late 1989 at a cost of $130,000.

On July 6, 1992, the Reverend Dennis L. Setzer, Jr. was called as Pastor. In October, 1994, Wayne Agee was called as Director of Music. In September, 1995, Janet Nelson was called as Director of Children’s Choirs. In October, 1995, Faith Lapham was called as Director of Youth and Christian Education.

The Thelma Dry Nichols Memorial Building was dedicated in December, 1995. It is the present home of SOS Health Care. The cost of the land and building was $231,975.

In 1997 Grace Doyle accepted the position of Organist and Director of Music. Mary Thompkins was hired as our Youth Director and Youth Choir Director. New carpet was installed in the sanctuary. A new church message sign has replaced our old sign. A contemporary worship service on Monday Evening was begun.

In 1999 we completed renovation of our church kitchen.

In 2000 construction of our Youth Room was completed through the generous gift of Betty Graham. It was dedicated in loving memory of Roland “Dee” and Betty Graham. A columbarium was purchased and placed on the front lawn and will be used to hold the cremains of our members and their immediate families.

In 2001 additional staff were added: Pastor Don Cherney accepted the position of Visitation and Pulpit Supply Pastor; Libby Hicks was hired as our Organist/Director of Music and Tom Hanlon was hired as our Choir Director and Guitarist.

In 2002 the bathrooms outside the sanctuary were renovated and brought up to State Building Codes. New ceiling tiles replaced old ones in the Wingard Fellowship Hall, the hallway and any classroom that needed them. The parish hall was painted and the floors refinished. All exterior wooden surfaces were covered with siding.

In 2003 the Social Ministry Committee inaugurated the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Women of the church volunteer to knit a shawl that is to be given to one of our sick or shut-in members. This committee also began a ministry to families of patients at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center by providing snacks in the Surgical and Intensive Care Waiting Rooms. In the fall of this year, a Praise & Worship choir was also formed by Libby Hicks, Director.

In 2004 three air conditioning units were replaced. Our church sign was destroyed by a hit-and-run driver and was replaced with a similar sign. In the early Spring, Tom Hanlon resigned as Choir Director and Libby Hicks was also hired to direct the Chancel Choir.

In 2005 St. Philip Church is the only ELCA congregation in South Carolina who has implemented Bible Song Sunday, a unique way of teaching the Bible to our youth. Each week our children learn one of the major stories of the Bible. They learn by singing and signing the words of Scripture and then retelling that story using art. They will be learning 120 major passages of scripture of the next four years. Also, in 2005 a Praise Band with Singers was formed. Our Monday night Contemporary Worship Service began a new format which is led by the Praise Band and Praise Singers.