How to Create a Church Website in 10 Simple Steps

Why Your Church Needs a Website

1. Welcome New Visitors: Most people search online before visiting a church. Your site helps them feel comfortable before they arrive.
2. Share Your Mission & Values: Clearly communicate what your church stands for and how it serves the community.
3. Livestream & Archive Sermons: Let people watch online or catch up on messages they missed.
4. Promote Events & Ministries: Share details, RSVPs, or sign-ups for upcoming services, small groups, and community outreach.
5. Collect Donations Online: Enable secure online giving via debit, credit, or ACH.
6. Keep Your Congregation Informed: Announce service times, closures, prayer requests, and updates.

Key Features to Include in a Church Website

1. Homepage With Mission Statement: A short message that introduces your church and who it serves.
2. Sermon Archive or Livestream Page: Organized by series, speaker, or date.
3. Visit Us Page: Address, service times, parking instructions, and what to expect.
4. Ministries Section: Describe groups for kids, youth, women, men, and small groups.
5. Events Calendar: Embed a calendar with upcoming events, sign-ups, and recurring programs.
6. Online Giving Page: Set up tithing/donation forms with multiple giving options.
7. Contact Page: Add a form, email, phone, and social media links.
8. New Here Section: Speak directly to first-time visitors and answer common questions.

How to Create a Church Website in 10 Steps

This section is for church leaders and volunteers who want to create a simple, welcoming website that helps visitors connect and keeps members informed.

1. Choose the Right Website Builder

Select a platform that balances ease of use with the features churches need. Wix and Squarespace offer drag-and-drop simplicity with modern templates. WordPress is ideal for churches with in-house tech help—it’s customizable and supports plugins for sermons, calendars, and donations. Church-specific builders like Tithe.ly and ShareFaith provide prebuilt sermon players, event RSVPs, and giving integrations out of the box, saving hours of development time. Use Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress for full control and easy updates. For church-specific features like sermon uploads and event RSVPs, consider platforms like Tithe.ly, ShareFaith, or Ministry Designs.

2. Pick a Template That Feels Welcoming

Choose a mobile-responsive, image-rich template with warm colors and space for large photos or background videos. Prioritize templates that include a visible Sunday service time, a welcome message, and a 'Plan Your Visit' button on the homepage. Clean, intuitive design will help both tech-savvy and less tech-savvy visitors navigate your site comfortably. Choose a design that matches your church's personality—modern, traditional, or community-focused. Look for templates with space for large images, homepage welcome messages, and sermon video thumbnails.

3. Secure a Custom Domain

Buy a domain like gracechurchhouston.org or trinitybaptistatl.com through Google Domains, Namecheap, or your website builder. Custom domains increase credibility, improve SEO, and make it easier for new members to find you online. Redirect common misspellings or abbreviations to your main domain to capture all visitors. Use your church name or location in the domain (e.g., gracebaptistdallas.org). This makes it easier for people to find you online and builds credibility.

4. Write a Clear Mission & Welcome Message

Use your homepage to highlight your church’s purpose, heart for the community, and a personal invitation to visit. Write in a warm, conversational tone. Instead of a long statement of faith, focus on what guests will experience—'We’re a welcoming, Bible-teaching church with a passion for serving families and the city.' Include a friendly introduction, your church’s core values, and an invitation to visit. Keep it brief, sincere, and jargon-free.

5. Add Core Pages & Navigation Menu

Your menu should be simple and uncluttered. Use 5–7 main menu items: Home, About, Visit Us, Sermons, Ministries, Events, Giving, Contact. For submenus, organize logically (e.g., Kids & Youth under Ministries). Keep text labels clear—avoid insider terms like 'Fellowship' or 'Ekklesia' unless you explain them clearly. Create a simple menu with links to Home, About, Visit Us, Sermons, Ministries, Events, Giving, and Contact. Keep dropdowns minimal to reduce overwhelm.

6. Upload Sermons or Link Livestreams

Make past sermons easy to find and filter by series, speaker, or topic. Embed YouTube/Vimeo videos or use a sermon plugin if you’re on WordPress. For audio-only sermons, use a podcast hosting tool and embed the feed. Include sermon notes, downloadable PDFs, and discussion questions to serve your community throughout the week. Embed YouTube, Vimeo, or audio-only versions of sermons. Organize by topic or date. Use sermon thumbnails and short descriptions for easier browsing.

7. Set Up Online Giving

Use a reliable giving provider like Tithe.ly, Givelify, or PayPal. Embed secure giving forms directly into your site, with options for one-time or recurring donations. Explain where donations go and why they matter—e.g., 'Your giving helps fund youth ministry, local food banks, and outreach programs.' Include ACH (bank transfer) to minimize fees. Use tools like Tithe.ly, PayPal, Stripe, or Givelify. Offer options for recurring giving, designated funds, or text-to-give.

8. Add a Calendar and Event Pages

Integrate a clean, filterable calendar using Google Calendar embeds or a plugin like The Events Calendar. List major gatherings, special services, and volunteer opportunities. Use call-to-action buttons for RSVPs, volunteer sign-ups, or event reminders. This encourages member participation and helps newcomers feel invited to join in. Display weekly events, prayer meetings, or youth nights. Include RSVP options or volunteer sign-up forms using tools like Google Calendar embeds or event plugins.

9. Make It Mobile Friendly

Test every page on a smartphone. Over 60% of traffic to church websites happens on mobile. Use large fonts, tappable buttons, short paragraphs, and collapsible menus. Avoid slow-loading image sliders. Speed and clarity are critical—especially for new visitors trying to check service times on Sunday morning. Most users will visit your site on their phone. Test every page on mobile, simplify layouts, and use large fonts and buttons for easy navigation.

10. Launch and Share

Announce your website’s launch during services, in bulletins, and via email. Post about it on social media, and encourage members to share it with friends. Ask volunteers to check the site weekly and give feedback. Update the homepage often with new events or sermon links to signal that your church is active and thriving. Announce the site during services, in newsletters, and on social media. Encourage members to bookmark it and check it regularly for updates.