St. Philip the Apostle Church is a Victorian Gothic building which retains most of its original woodwork and detailing. While most historic rural churches, such as the nearby Occidental Community Church, are vernacular in design and have no credited architect, St. Philip was designed by a prominent San Francisco firm, Shea and Shea.

In the late 1800s, the Catholic population of the Occidental area was served by the Church of the Assumption in Tomales. An influx of Italian and Irish immigrants created a need for a local church.

After the Asti family donated a plot of land, the architects were commissioned and the Neles Brothers from Bodega were hired as contractors. All work was performed by local workers. The church was completed in December 1902 and was dedicated by the coadjutor bishop of San Francisco in June 1903.