About St. Kilda South Port Uniting Church:
St Kilda South Port Uniting Church is a vibrant Christian community serving Melbourne’s inner south. Formed through the coming together of the former St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne Uniting Church congregations, the church seeks to express the Uniting Church’s commitment to inclusive worship, compassionate service and social justice.
The congregation gathers around the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, seeking to build a community where all people are welcomed, valued and encouraged to participate. Worship combines biblical reflection, prayer, music and open discussion, while embracing a diversity of backgrounds, life experiences and theological perspectives.
Beyond Sunday worship, the church is deeply engaged with the wider community through its four key areas of ministry: worship, arts and spirituality, sacred earth, and social justice. Located in the South Melbourne Market precinct, the church works closely with the local community to support vulnerable people. One of the best-known expressions of this partnership is the 101 Engagement Hub, where the church and community volunteers provide meals, companionship and practical support for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, social isolation and mental illness.
Front entrance (Dorcas Street)
A labyrinth for contemplative practice
Front of church view with historic Fincham & Hobday pipe organ (1891)
A view from the top of the pipe organ
A commitment to Reconciliation
Sacred Symbols – Cross, Bible, Chalice, Bowl
Symbol of inclusion and welcome
Handmade rugs for warmth and comfort
Stained glass window for Remembrance Day – Lest We Forget
A hand carved Cross – symbol of standing against Empire, political resistance and the Resurrection into a new creation
History:
The story of St Kilda South Port Uniting Church reflects both the history of Melbourne’s bayside communities and the continuing evolution of the Uniting Church in Australia. The congregation was established through the amalgamation of three longstanding Uniting Church congregations serving St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne, bringing together their people, ministries and traditions into a single church serving the City of Port Phillip.
Each of the three congregations had its own rich history dating back to the nineteenth century, when churches were established to serve Melbourne’s rapidly growing suburbs. Following the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, these congregations continued to worship and serve their local communities while responding to changing demographics and community needs.
The decision to unite reflected a shared vision of strengthening ministry across the region. Rather than maintaining separate congregations, members chose to combine their resources and gifts to create a church with a stronger focus on worship, community engagement and social outreach.
Today, the congregation continues this tradition through its ministry centred on hospitality, inclusion and service. While honouring the legacy of its predecessor churches, St Kilda South Port Uniting Church looks forward, seeking to be a place where faith is lived through compassion, creativity and justice within one of Melbourne’s most diverse communities.
Faith Leader: Reverend Alex Sangster
Reverend Alex Sangster is a minister at St Kilda South Port Uniting Church and is recognised for her commitment to inclusive ministry, social justice and community engagement.
Ordained in the Uniting Church in Australia, Alex has served congregations across Victoria for more than two decades. She has also contributed to national worship and leadership initiatives within the Church, encouraging people to connect faith with everyday life through worship, compassion and service.
At St Kilda South Port Uniting Church, Alex’s ministry encompasses worship, pastoral care and community outreach. She is closely involved with the church’s 101 Engagement Hub, which supports people experiencing homelessness, loneliness, mental illness and other forms of disadvantage. Her ministry reflects the Uniting Church’s commitment to welcoming all people and living out the Christian faith through compassion, hospitality and justice.