Want A Good Church Website? Here are the Ingredients
A whopping 80% of guests view your church’s site before they ever walk through the doors.
At the bare minimum, a good church website will display service times and directions and help convey to them what your church is all about. It's your first impression!
I'll break down the difference between what makes a church's site look "good" and what makes a church website look ugly.
Why Church Website Design Matters
Think of your website as your church’s front door.
If you were new to a church, would you walk through the front door that looked like this? ?
First impressions count, and when it comes to your website, they can really affect whether someone decides to attend a service or get involved. You want to make sure your digital front door is inviting, easy to use, and gives a clear picture of what your church is all about.
Elements of a Good Church Website
Here’s what makes a church website great, and what you should absolutely avoid if you don’t want to end up with an ugly site that makes people run for the hills.
1. Simplified Website Design
Good: Think clean, simple, and modern. Your site should have a nice flow with a cohesive color scheme and easy-to-read fonts. A polished look will help people take your church seriously while also making them feel comfortable. Check out these top church website design trends of 2025 for some inspiration.
Avoid: A cluttered page with too many colors, fonts, or outdated designs. If your site looks like it was made in the ‘90s, visitors might think your church is stuck in the past, too.
2. Easy Navigation
Good: Keep it simple. Menus should be easy to find and clearly labeled—think “About Us,” “Plan A Visit,” and “Contact.” You want visitors to find what they need with just a couple of clicks.
Avoid: Overcomplicating things with confusing or hidden menus. If people can’t find your service times or directions within a few seconds, they’ll bounce. Keep it easy!
3. Relevant and Easy to Read Content
Good: Keep things short and sweet! Make sure your website has current, relevant information—like service times, upcoming events, and any cool things your church is involved in. People want to know what’s going on now, not what happened last Christmas.
Avoid: Walls of text that make people scroll forever to find something useful. Also, nothing says “we’re not keeping up” like outdated event details. Keep it fresh!
4. Beautiful Visuals
Good: High-quality photos of real people in your church (not generic stock photos). Show off your congregation, events, and ministries with images that feel personal and authentic.
Avoid: Low-res or pixelated images that look like they came from a flip phone in 2005. And generic stock photos? Please don’t. People want to see YOUR church, not some random photo from the internet.
5. Mobile Responsiveness
Good: Mobile-friendliness is key. Make sure your website looks great on phones and tablets. Most people browse websites on their phones, so your site should automatically adjust to fit their screen size.
Avoid: A site that works only on desktop. Not having a responsive design also kills your website SEO for Google as well.
6. Multiple Calls to Action (CTAs)
Good: Make it easy for visitors to take action. Whether it’s signing up for an event, donating online, or learning more about your church, have buttons or links that stand out and make it clear what you want them to do next.
Avoid: Vague, hard-to-find CTAs. Don’t bury your calls to action or make people guess what to do next. Be clear, be obvious, and don’t overwhelm people with too many choices.
Check out our article on "Want To Make A Good Church Website? Do This" for more details.
Best Practices For Church Website
Alright, you’ve got the basics down—now let’s take it up a notch. Here are some extra tips to keep your website on the “good” side:
1. Stick to Consistent Branding
Use your church’s logo, colors, and fonts across the site. Consistency helps build trust and makes your site feel more professional and cohesive.
2. Keep It Fresh
Update your website regularly! From sermon videos to event listings, showing that your church is active and engaged will keep visitors coming back for more.
3. Prioritize Accessibility
Make key info—like service times, directions, and contact details—easy to find on your homepage. No one wants to dig for basic info!
4. Test Everything
Before you go live, test your site on different devices and browsers. Check that everything works—no broken links, slow load times, or wonky layouts. You don’t want to disappoint people who are trying to check you out! (Keep it user-friendly.)
Examples of Good Church Websites
- Passion City Church – passioncitychurch.com
- The Village Church – thevillagechurch.net
- Red Rocks Church – redrockschurch.com
Why it’s great: Bold visuals, modern design, easy-to-find service times, and strong CTAs like “Plan Your Visit.” The homepage immediately reflects their identity and mission.
Why it’s great: Simple and elegant layout with intuitive navigation. Their beliefs, sermons, and ministries are easy to find. Strong use of typography and whitespace.
Why it’s great: Compelling video background and engaging homepage that tells a story. CTAs are visible right away, and the site feels alive and updated.
Check out our article on "The Best Church Websites of 2025: What They Have In Common" for more examples.
Go From A Good To A Great Church Website
A good church website is clean, easy to use, and shows your church’s heart and mission. It avoids being cluttered, confusing, and outdated. Don't send your potential visitors running for the hills before they even get to your building!
If you take some time (or maybe a little budget) to invest in a website that reflects who your church is today. A well-designed website is a powerful tool for connecting with your community, sharing your mission, and making a lasting impression.
Don’t let your digital front door be the thing that holds your church back from reaching more people—make sure it’s welcoming, easy to navigate, and up-to-date. Your congregation—and their first-time visitors—will thank you!
FAQS
What should absolutely be on a church website?
At the very least, include service times, location with a map, contact info, and a clear “Plan Your Visit” section. Bonus points for sermon videos, online giving, and event details.
How much does a church website cost?
It depends! Some platforms are free or low-cost (like Church Connect), while custom-designed sites can run thousands. It’s more important to prioritize clarity and mobile-friendliness over fancy features.
Do we need a professional designer?
Not necessarily. Many church website builders offer templates that look great with no coding required. But if your budget allows and you want a more custom look, a designer can help.
How often should we update our church website?
At least once a month! Make sure event info, sermon uploads, and announcements are current. An outdated website gives the impression of an inactive church.
Is it really that important for our site to work on phones?
Yes—most people will visit your site on a phone first. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it could hurt your church’s first impression (and even your search engine ranking).
What’s the difference between Church Connect and other website platforms?
Church Connect is built specifically for churches and integrates with your church management software. That means it’s easier to keep info up to date, and it works great on any device, without extra effort.
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