The Rev. Philip Ross Strange – a veteran priest who served as rector of St. Paul’s, Lancaster; St. Michael’s, Riverside; and parishes in New Mexico and Texas – died July 30 at Northridge Hospital Medical Center. He was 84 and in recent years resided in North Hills and assisted at nearby St. Andrew and St. Charles Church in Granada Hills.
A memorial service at St. Andrew and St. Charles, 16651 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills is planned for Saturday, Aug. 16, 11 a.m.
Strange is survived by Susan, his wife of 58 years; their two daughters, Laura Strange-Esculcas and Sarah Strange Dearn; a son, Paul; and their families.
Joining the Rev. Nancy Brown and the Rev. Canon Greg Frost at Strange’s ICU bedside on July 26, Bishop John Harvey Taylor administered last rites.
Strange was born July 20, 1941 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Houston’s Rice University and a master of divinity degree from General Theological Seminary in New York City, later continuing graduate studies in education at the University of New Mexico. Ordained deacon and priest in 1965 in the Diocese of Dallas, he was active in the civil rights movement and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In Texas, Strange began his ministry as deacon and vicar of St. Barnabas Mission, Garland, and went on to become assistant to the dean of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Dallas, where he later served from 1971 to 1973 as director of the Cathedral Center for Continuing Education and Pastoral Concern. While pursuing graduate studies in the philosophy of religion at Southern Methodist University, he was from 1968 to 1971 assistant rector of St. Mark’s, Irving. From 1973 to 1980 he served as rector and head of school at St. James’, Dallas, before moving to Albuquerque where he served as vicar of St. Chad’s Church, which grew from a store-front ministry to a parish congregation. He subsequently served for two years as associate for education and then interim rector at St. Thomas of Canterbury, Albuquerque.
Relocating to the Diocese of Los Angeles in 1990, Strange was named rector of St. Michael’s, Riverside, where he served for six years before serving until 2004 as rector of St. Paul’s, Lancaster. He was an active leader in the ministries of Deanery 2 and served the diocese as an elected judge of the ecclesiastical trial court.
In retirement, Strange became active in ministries at St. Andrew and St. Charles, where he will long be remembered for his depth of pastoral care, sense of humor, and compelling sermons.