EST. 1839
About St Michael's
Nearly two centuries of progressive faith, rooted in the heart of Melbourne and reaching into the world.
Our Story
Gather. Nurture. Act.
St Michael’s is a progressive Christian church where every person belongs and every voice matters – regardless of who you are, where you’re from, or how you identify.
We work to nurture the spiritual wellbeing of the community, and believe faith should support action for social and ecological justice.
The earliest permanent chapel in Melbourne was established in 1839 on the site St Michael’s Uniting Church stands, making us one of Melbourne’s oldest institutions. We honour the historic legacy whilst believing in progress and transformation. We ask difficult questions, are firm believers in justice and human rights and practice faith in the service of the community.
Today, St Michael’s is a member of the Uniting Church in Australia, an Open and Affirming congregation for LGBTQIA+ people, and a signatory to the Covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress – recognising the sovereignty of First Peoples and supporting Treaty.
Our Values
What we believe and how we live it.
Inclusion
We actively affirm and celebrate people of all identities, abilities, cultures and backgrounds.
Progressive Faith
As followers of Jesus, we believe in honest engagement with questions of life and faith.
Contemplation
In the heart of a busy city, we offer the rare opportunity to be still, through worship, music, the arts – and at Mingary, the Quiet Place.
Wellbeing
We seek to care for each person – spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
Justice
We believe in advocating for the welfare of the planet and all people.
Action
We educate, inspire and partner with others to work for the common good.
Our People
The people of St Michael's.
Minister
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Manager of Music
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Chair of Church Council
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Secretary
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The Church Council are responsible for “building up the congregation in faith and love sustaining members in hope, and leading the congregation to a fuller participation in Christ’s mission in the world”. The Council work with St Michael’s Committees to work on the things that are important to us. These committees include Church Services, Connection & Care, Finance, Mingary, Mission Coordinating & Property.
The Building
A landmark in the heart of Melbourne.
The church building at the corner of Collins and Russell Streets is one of Melbourne’s most significant heritage landmarks and one of its most quietly surprising interiors. Step through the door, and find a space of calm.
- Designed by Joseph Reed and completed in 1867, replacing the original 1839 chapel. It was the first permanent building constructed as a church in the Port Phillip Settlement
- Reed also designed the Melbourne Town Hall, the Royal Exhibition Building and the State Library of Victoria
- The exterior is the first example of polychromatic brickwork in Victoria. The Lombardic Romanesque style influenced a popular polychromatic trend in Melbourne architecture during the 1880s.
- The interior is designed as a galleried auditorium with tiered seating arranged in a semicircle, slender cast iron columns, a domed ceiling, and spiral gallery stairs. It was built so every person could see and hear equally
- Widely regarded as having one of the finest acoustics of any nineteenth-century church in Victoria
- The lower stained-glass windows were installed in 1988 as part of the Australian Bicentenary. Created by artist Klaus Zimmer, the windows are described as the largest display of existential-religious stained glass in the Southern Hemisphere
- St Michael’s is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and classified by the National Trust at its highest heritage rating
- In 1991, the modern 120 Collins Street office tower was completed creating St Michael’s one of Melbourne’s most distinctive urban juxtapositions: a Victorian sandstone sanctuary enclosed by glass and steel
Music & The Arts
Creative expression compliments spirituality.
Vibrant Music Program
Music is a central part of worship at St Michael’s, We believe music and art nourish the human spirit and so we bring a mix of traditional and modern music for contemplation during Sunday services.
Sunday services feature live instrumental music performed by Australian and international musicians, invited to play by Rhys Boak, the Manager of Music and Organist at St Michael’s.
Grand Pipe Organ
The auditorium houses a magnificent Grand Pipe organ, with a remarkable history. The first organ built in England in 1866 by Hill & Son. The current organ features three manuals, pedals, 44 speaking stops and approximately 2,225 pipes. It was refurbished in 2025 and remains one of the finest instruments in Melbourne.
History of the organ
The first organ was built in 1866 by Hill & Son of London. In 1923, Melbourne firm George Fincham & Sons built a new instrument, later rebuilt in 1951. The present organ was built by Fincham & Sons in 1958, with the console relocated to its current position in 1978. It is the work of George Bowring Fincham, grandson of the company’s founder.
Choir of Hard Knocks
St Michael’s is a proud supporter of the Choir of Hard Knocks, a community choir providing a safe and supportive environment for vulnerable people to gather, socialise and sing. The choir has been working for over 20 years to overcome social isolation and homelessness through the joy and connection of singing.
Justice & Action
Good intentions need kind acts
St Michael’s believes in upholding foundational Christian values of human rights, integrity, and welfare for all. This includes advocacy and leadership on a wide range of social justice issues.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
St Michael’s is home to the Mingary-Cairnmillar Counselling Service, providing low-cost professional counselling in association with the Cairnmillar Institute. The service is inclusive and affirming of diversity in all its forms. We believe access to quality mental health care should be available to everyone and is open to all in Australia. We also offer Mingary, The Quiet Place, a sanctuary in the heart of Melbourne for those who need a peaceful sanctuary to rest and reflect.
Inclusion and Diversity
St Michael’s is an Open and Affirming Church. We live out the mission of the Uniting Church in Australia as a welcoming and affirming community. We welcome LGBTIQA+ people to participate in all aspects of the church’s life. We are committed to social justice to reduce stigma and discrimination and improve the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in both religious and secular settings. We are proud to be a sanctuary for queer people.
Environmental Action
St Michael’s is committed to ecological justice and has developed an Environmental Action Plan. The church aims to contribute to the Uniting Church’s target of net zero emissions by 2040. St Michael’s has installed energy-efficient lighting, and sources the best options for sustainable energy and purchasing practices. We hold regular services such as the Season of Creation to pray and reflect on our shared call to care for the Earth.
First Peoples Recognition
St Michael’s acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Custodians. We are a signatory to the Covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, recognising the sovereignty of First Peoples and supporting Treaty. We participate in the Living the Covenant Locally movement and host a library of works by First Nations authors.