Our story

A story of new life

St Luke’s is situated on the estate God gave to the Bidjigal and Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

St Luke’s began in 1890 the way that all new churches begin – as a church plant! The congregation of St Nicolas in Coogee began a new gathering in Clovelly at Lippett’s farm in Boundary Street. The original St Luke’s hall was built in 1893 and housed the newly formed Clovelly Public School from 1897–1909. This was all back in the days when Clovelly was known as ‘Little Coogee’.

After the darkness of the Great War, it was again time for new life and hope for Clovelly. Land was purchased in 1921 and the current brick church building was dedicated on Remembrance Day of 1923. The Pozieres Cross, a memorial to local young men who served as sailors and soldiers, was installed at the back of the church in 1934.

A new beginning

On Easter Sunday 2009, the day that Christians celebrate Jesus rising to new life, St Luke’s had another new beginning. We launched a new 4pm gathering, from a small team with a big vision to see our community transformed by the new life and hope that Jesus offers us all.

Since then, God has been kind to bring all sorts of people amongst us – those curious to explore the claims of Christianity, those who’ve discovered new life in Jesus, new friends to the area, and those looking for a new start in their Christian journey.

Whoever you are, you’re welcome.