Background
Phillips was born in Kibworth, Leicestershire.
Phillips was born in Kibworth, Leicestershire.
In 1891 he became curate of Holy Trinity, Taunton, Somerset. In 1895 he became curate of Hendford, Yeovil. In 1901 he became curate of Saint Saviour"s, Croydon.
In 1906 he became curate of Ashtead, Surrey.
Finally in 1916 he was appointed vicar of Headley where he remained for the rest of his life. As an amateur astronomer, he observed planets including Jupiter and Mars, making a very thorough study of the surface currents on Jupiter.
He was director of the Jupiter section of the British Astronomical Association from 1900–1933 and director of the Saturn section from 1935–1940. He was president of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1927–1929.
He co-wrote Splendour of the Heavens with West. H. Steavenson in 1923.
In an addition to astronomy, he took an active interest in meteorology. MNRAS 103 (1943) 70–72
PASP 54 (1942) 166
Observer 64 (1942) 228–231 (article on honorary degree from Oxford University on 28 February 1942, in lieu of obituary).
He was a member of the International Astronomical Union commission on planets.