Creating a website: guidance for churches
The checklist below aims to provide simple guidance for congregations who wish to establish or improve their Church website.
Outsourcing – setting up a new website
- Research web design agencies in your area
- Secure at least three quotes from different agencies
- Avoid sole practitioners – find a company with more than one employee which is likely to still be in business in a couple of years' time
- Ensure the website is simple and uses Church of Scotland logos and colours
Necessary information to include on website
- Name of Minister
- Worship times - Put this in as prominent a spot as possible, preferably high up on the homepage
- Church address - including postcode and information about parking
- Contact phone number and email address
- Denomination (new Church of Scotland logo)
- Link to the Church of Scotland website
- Accessibility information - ramps, accessible toilets, hearing loops etc.
Improvements
- Use high-quality images
- Keep information current (as much as possible)
- Link to social media accounts
- Include Parish news
- Provide information about life events (weddings, baptisms, and funerals)
- Provide information about available meeting spaces
- Embedded video or audio of your latest service, or links to where they can be seen or heard (YouTube, etc.)
