Seeing that the Roman Catholic Church has long been established in the the Philippine Islands, missionary Charles Henry Brent mentioned that "we are not building an altar over and against another altar," thus focusing Episcopal missionary activities among the Chinese of Manila, the tribes in Mindanao and the tribes of northern Luzon.

Since the coming of the American missionaries of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the municipality of Sagada has become the only Philippine town that is predominantly Protestant with almost 95% baptized into the Episcopal Church. A known landmark at the center of town is the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, a vibrant Episcopal parish. In 2001, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines celebrated its 100th anniversary with much of the festivities centered on the town of Sagada.