St. Philip's Parish

Church of England, New Hanover, later Brunswick County, est. in 1741 when St. James’ Parish, which see, was divided. St. Philip's Parish was that part of the county S of the Cape Fear River. With the creation of Brunswick County in 1764, St. Philip's Parish became coextensive with the new county. The parish had 224 white taxable inhabitants in 1767, described as being "mostly Gentlemen." The ruins of St. Philip's Church, completed in 1765, begun a number of years earlier, still stand near Orton Plantation, Brunswick County, at the site of the old town of Brunswick.