Südkirche, Protestant church in Pliensauvorstadt district, Esslingen am Neckar, Germany.

Südkirche is a Protestant church building in Esslingen am Neckar combining rectangular and circular spatial elements, with the sermon area featuring brick walls and wooden beam ceilings arranged across multiple levels. The interior accommodates approximately 927 people and blends practical design with spiritual purpose.

A plot on Spitalsteige was bought in 1914, but World War I halted the project. In 1919 Martin Elsaesser drew two designs for a Volkskirche; the smaller, seating 927, was built from 28 May 1925. Sandstone over marl and the steep slope forced costly foundation work, raising the cost from a planned 140,000–160,000 to 610,970 Reichsmark. The church opened on 14 November 1926.

The church's name refers to its location south of the Neckar in the Pliensauvorstadt, a workers' district that grew from gardens and vineyards. Its "Volkskirche" concept places a round sacramental chapel and a rectangular preaching hall under one roof, a division Elsaesser described in 1924. The first pastor, Otto Riethmüller, took the cross on a globe as his emblem; it appears on the altar.

To explore the interior, visitors should contact the parish office in advance to arrange a visit at a convenient time. This ensures access during open periods and avoids conflicts with church services or events.

Pastor Paul Schmidt, who led the congregation from 1928 to 1959, belonged to the Württemberg Confessional Community and for a time headed it. He and his wife hid Jewish citizens in a concealed room inside the Südkirche as members of the Württemberg parsonage chain.