What's so special about
St Peter's Church Southport
Come and be part of something really special. At St Peter's Church Southport, we are more than just a church, we are a community of people who come together to worship, learn, share & give in the name of God.
If your planning on visiting St Peter's for the first time, here are some helpful hints.
Some Highlights Of St Peter's
Church Choir
The Church Choir has been a longstanding tradition here at St Peter’s and currently enjoys leading the congregation during Sunday and Evensong services, as well as High Feasts. Directed by Luke Sharp and Madison Eastwood, our choir performs sacred repertoire in four-part harmony. The choir also explores more challenging repertoire to perform for church attendees. Whilst an advocate for music making at any age, the choir particularly endeavours to support young musicians by providing them with an avenue to collaborate with experienced performers. Rehearsing on a Tuesday evening at 6:00pm, the choir always welcomes new singers, so please come along if you love to sing!
Church Choir
Church Service
Community
Every day our church hums with church services, baptisms bible studies, weddings, funerals, fundraisers, concerts and so much more. Come and join our loving community of younger single professionals, loving families and active seniors and meet your new family under God.
Seasonal Events and Services
St Peters runs many special services, such as our popular Christmas services, Easter Services, ANZAC day memorials and many more! We also run events and fundraisers all year round, including men's groups, women's groups, fashion shows, classical music concerts, lunches and breakfasts. There is always something going on at St Peter's!
Palm Sunday
A little bit of history
Diocesan records state that St Peter’s, Southport, was formally established on 6th August 1886. Hitherto, it had been part of the much larger Parish of Beenleigh (which encompassed the area from Logan and Beenleigh all the way south to the state border with new South Wales.)
The newly formed parish of Southport encompassed all of what we would now call the Gold Coast, including: St Margaret’s (Nerang), Holy Rood (Upper Coomera), St Alban’s (TSS Chapel), Oxenford, Kingston, Ormeau, Labrador, St Hilda’s School, Gilston, St John’s (Surfer’s Paradise) and All Saints (Chirn Park).
Three Churches have existed on our site here on Nerang St in Southport: the original wooden church, which would be replaced by a larger wooden church and then the St Peter’s we currently worship in. This brick Church was built in 1960 as a Memorial Church to the fallen in World War II and all those who had gone before as pioneers in earlier generations.
The Church we currently worship in was built in 1960 as a Memorial Church to the fallen in World War II and all those who had gone before as pioneers in earlier generations. We are very fortunate to have a number of useful rooms and offices, with the Parish Centre opened in 1998 and Moore House (currently utilized by Anglicare) in 2005. All of this contributes to a parish that ‘hums! There are always activities taking place and we are very pleased to be able to offer support to groups like Narcotics Anonymous, Southport Endeavour Toastmasters and the Gold Coast Stroke Association. Karate groups are also keen users of our wonderful facilities.
St Peter's Church Gold Coast After Evening Service
We are especially proud of our outdoor areas—including a delightful children’s play area and the outdoor worship space (the Lorraine Garrett Garden).
St Peter’s is blessed with a number of beautiful stained-glass windows. The group of eight windows in St Peter’ are the work of Bill Klease, a (now retired) stained glass artist based in Murwillumbah, NSW. Bill’s work has a distinctive style, with special attention paid to facial detail. He describes his own style as ‘almost medieval.’
Our smaller services take place in the Lady Chapel. Many find the chapel an ideal place for quiet reflection and prayer and there are votive candles available for those wishing to remember a loved one in their prayers.
Directly beneath the chapel is the Columbarium. For many years now this has been a place of final repose for the ashes. It holds the memories of loved ones dear and it can be accessed at any time for visits and quiet prayer. The entry is next to the Undercroft entrance and there is a coded lock that we will provide the code for upon request.
As you look around the church you will find evidence of the strong links St Peter’s has enjoyed with the people of Southport. Of particular interest are the relationships that St Peter’s has enjoyed with local schools. In the sanctuary you will see two windows – one to St Alban and the other to St Hilda. These windows commemorate our links with The Southport School and St Hilda’s School.
Of course, we have only just begun to explain the rich history and traditions that can be found at St Peter’s Anglican Church. Please take your time to come in and enjoy our church.
St Peter Church and Parish Centre.
Service Times
In-PERSON & ONLINE
EVERY SUNDAY
— 7AM, 9.30AM & 5.45PM
WEDNESDAY— 10AM
THURSDAY— 12NN
Online Services
Our services are the classic Anglican style services, complete with hymns and prayer books. You can learn about what the service is like and who you might meet there on our regular services page.
Quick Info
Is there a dress code:
No, come as you are.
Does it cost money?
No, your donations are welcome.
If you wish to contribute you can put your spare change in the donation box, use the tap machine or donate online through our website here.
We are located
Get to know our staff
Fr Don Parker
Christine Corroy
Christine Corroy moved to the Gold Coast with her husband and two sons in 1980 and has been a parishioner at St Peter’s since 1981. In the early years she was involved with the Youth Group and served on Parish Council. Christine has been a Warden and Parish Administrator since 2014.
Madison Eastwood
My name is Madison Eastwood and I have been with St Peter’s as Cantor since 2017. My role involves leading the singing of the psalm and, alongside the rest of the St Peter’s Church Choir, supporting the congregation in the singing of hymns during Sunday and Evensong services. I love working with our amazing choristers to help develop the Music Program here at St Peter’s. Additionally, I work with Falon on the Church’s Social Media presence, and head the Social Media and Online Presence Portfolio on Parish Council. Outside the church, I have become a Music Teacher at A. B. Paterson College. I look forward to continuing the Choral Program and supporting the St Peter’s musical community however I can!
Luke Sharp
My name is Luke Sharp and I am the Music Director and Organist at St Peter’s. Since April 2020, I also began coordinating the Live Streaming operations at St. Peter’s for our parishioners unable to attend in person. On Sundays, I can be found upstairs in the choir loft accompanying hymns and the psalm, as well as operating the live stream. On Tuesday evenings, I, alongside Madison Eastwood, rehearse and direct the St Peter’s Choir, who lend their voices to worship every Sunday. Outside of my work at St Peter’s, I teach Piano to students at our brother and sister schools, The Southport School and St Hilda’s School, as well as accompany a number of their choirs.
Falon Cobcroft
Falon Cobcroft took on the role of Social Media Coordinator for St Peters in October 2021 and is responsible for our parish postings on Facebook and Instagram. She is currently studying Law and is in the third year of her Law degree. She is incredibly passionate about her love of animals and has four pets of her own. Whilst she will not be at every service, you will always see Falon at our special St Peter’s events taking pictures. She loves meeting new people so be sure to introduce yourself!
What our people say
In a time of my life where I am always rushed or have an email to follow up on, it’s rare for me to find a time and place where I can just relax and centre myself again. However, as I sit in the pew at St Peter’s Church in Southport on a Sunday morning, looking at the amazing stain glassed windows as I listen to the sermon, a feeling of being centred, and connected to God washes over me and I feel ready to start again for another week.
Craig Parker – St Peter’s Church Parishioner
St Peter’s Church Southport is your quiet place in the city. We pride ourselves on our beautiful grounds, and an amazing church building. While our church services follow the classic Anglican style in a very cathedral like building, we enjoy wonders of technology as well. All our buildings are Air Conditioned, we share our news on our Facebook and website.
St Peter's Church Gold Coast After Morning Service