Melbourne City Churches In Action

St Michael’s Uniting Church is located at 120 Collins Street. A church has stood on the present site since 1839. It was the first permanent building erected in the Port Phillip Settlement expressly as a church. In 1866 the first building was demolished and plans were made for the the building that stands today. The architect was Joseph Reed, who designed many fine Melbourne buildings, including the Town Hall and the Exhibition Building.

The style is Lombardic, with polychrome exterior brickwork, open cloisters on the sides of the building and Romanesque arches. The interior design was strongly influenced by the Minister’s request for a setting in which all members of the congregation could both see and hear the preacher. The result is an interior with many similarities to a theatre, a coved ceiling for its acoustic properties and an extensive horseshoe gallery. The church features beautiful stained glass windows and a fine pipe organ dating from 1867.

St Michael's offers:

• A unique blend of religion and psychology to create a relevant ministry to many thousands of people each week.
• A central city location for weddings and wedding blessings.
• Counselling and psycho therapy for individuals, couples and families.
• A SAGE program for people over the age of 45.