Revitalising with Purpose
Giving
Revitalisation Project Update:27 November 2025
Over the past few weeks Church Revitalisation Project works have concentrated on the toilet amenities with some focus on the church auditorium and exterior.
Every week we are one step closer to ensuring our church is an accessible space that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Auditorium
The electrical rough-in which is the initial stage of the electrical installation is nearing completion.
While this has been happening the floor space has been cleaned out of debris in preparation for installation of new floor sheeting to be laid next week.
Toilet Amenities:
Following installation of structural steel, additional walls have been removed from the toilet amenities area.
Plumbing has been chased into the existing slab and new concrete is soon to be poured over.
The new toilet amenities will start taking shape over the next couple of weeks with wall setouts commencing next week.
Exterior:
Service upgrade works have commenced to the exterior of the building.
Demolition of the ramp will start next week, which will be followed directly by set out and construction of the new landing and ramp to the east entry.
This will ensure a clear, accessible pathway for our community to enter the church building.
Important Dates:
- 18 August 2025: Works on the St Michael’s Revitalisation Project begin.
- 28 July – 30 July 2025: Front pipes of the St Michael’s Grand Organ removed by Australian Pipe Organs and taken off site for cleaning and repairs. They will be returned at the completion of the Revitalisation Project.
Here’s time lapse of the removal of several pipes that were removed.
- 20 July 2025: Last service in St Michael’s Church before the Revitalisation Project begins.
- 27 July 2025: Church services will be held in St Michael’s Hall from Sunday 27 July until the completion of the works.
St Michael’s is undertaking an exciting and significant revitalisation project as part of our forward-looking vision.
The revitalisation aims to prepare for the next phase of our church’s life by transforming our church building to better serve both the present and future congregation and the wider community.
Revitalising with Purpose Updates
As the Revitalisation Project progresses, we will update our community regularly.
Please find a list of updates here:
We will send updates via the weekly eNews.
You can subscribe to our eNews here
Attending Sunday Gatherings while we Revitalise
While we revitalise with purpose, Sunday gatherings will temporarily be held in St Michael’s Hall at 10am.
You can access the Hall, on the ground floor of St Michael’s Administration building via St Michael’s Walk (from Collins Street between St Michael’s Uniting Church and 120 Collins Street).
Why is St Michael’s Revitalising with Purpose?
The church building and the church community
The congregation’s identity is articulated in its mission statement, which focuses on fostering a welcoming and inclusive community, enhancing the wellbeing of all who visit the church, and nurturing creativity and the arts, particularly through music. At St Michael’s our theology is progressive and non-dogmatic. We practice a spacious spirituality, ensuring visitors feel welcomed, respected and valued.
The congregation of St Michael’s holds in high regard the beautiful heritage church we are privileged to enjoy through the generosity and hard work of previous generations. We appreciate its grandeur and the sense of intimacy provided by the curved interior and seating.
For religious services and other events such as concerts, or public lectures, attendees value the ability to see the speakers or performers on the chancel and to connect with fellow participants in the auditorium. The church’s architecture offers both aesthetic and social significance.
We are delighted with the creative and accessible design for the church renovation and facilities upgrade collaboratively developed for us by Trethowan Architects, Simbuilt (Construction), UCA Property Services and Heritage Victoria.
Accessible and Welcoming
Making the church a fully accessible and safe gathering place is a key aspect of our mission. Presently, people with limited mobility face challenges accessing the church entrances and auditorium seating areas. The Revitalisation Project will make the entry from St Michael’s Walk into the renovated lower auditorium an accessible, welcoming and inclusive space. Flexible individual seating will allow people to move freely within the space. An accessible chancel will enable inclusion of worship leaders, performers, or speakers with disabilities.
Community Use
St Michael’s has a history of hosting public events which contribute to individual and collective wellbeing. The Revitalisation Project is a crucial component of our commitment to making the church available to the wider community.
The revitalisation of the auditorium and upgraded facilities, will greatly assist with using the church for a wide range of activities such concerts, lectures, debates, interactive interviews and other presentations.
Congregational Life: Changes in Worship Culture
The proposed design changes in the lower auditorium will foster an inclusive community and enhance our egalitarian ethos while maintaining the heritage value of the church.
Reducing the number of steps between the chancel and the auditorium will allow participants to move freely between the congregation and the chancel, to participate during service, and overcome barriers between leaders and the congregation. Those receiving communion, our readers, people offering prayers, candle lighters, communion servers, couples being married, families bringing babies or small children to the font for baptism and those bringing the offering forward will be able to act as active participants without risk of the current trip and fall hazards.
History and Change
St Michael’s has a longstanding history of both safeguarding the heritage value of the church and sensitively adapting it to accommodate changes in cultural and religious needs. The Revitalisation Project represents the next phase in this ongoing evolution. It allows the congregation, which is deeply committed to its stewardship responsibilities to honour and conserve the church, to address the present and future needs while preserving the beauty and spirit of the past.
