What Does a Church Website Actually Need? A Checklist for Small Congregations

There is a lot of advice on the internet about church websites. Most of it is written by marketing agencies trying to sell you a $20,000 project. We are going to give you something more useful: a straightforward checklist of what a church website actually needs to do its job.

If your site has everything on this list and it works well on a phone, you are in good shape.

The essentials

Service times and location. This should be on your homepage, visible without scrolling. Not buried on a contact page. Not hidden in a drop-down menu. Right there, immediately visible, every time anyone lands on your site.

A clear sense of who you are. A visitor should be able to tell within thirty seconds whether your church might be a fit for them. That does not mean a lengthy theological statement. It means a photo that shows real people, a short description of your community, and a sense of the tone and tradition of your congregation.

A way to watch or listen to a recent sermon. This is often the first thing a potential visitor does. They want to hear the pastor before they show up. If you do not have sermons online, you are missing one of the best tools you have for reaching new people.

Information for families with kids. If you have a children's ministry, it deserves its own page or at least a clear section. Parents want to know what to expect before they bring their kids somewhere new.

A contact form or email address. Someone should be able to reach you easily. Do not make people hunt for your phone number.

An online giving option. This does not need to be complicated. A simple link to your giving platform is enough. Members who travel, forget their checkbook, or simply prefer digital giving should have an easy way to contribute.

Nice to have

A church calendar with upcoming events. A staff or leadership page with photos and names. A short history of the church. A resources page with sermon notes or reading recommendations.

These are worth adding when you have the basics covered well. Do not let the nice-to-haves distract you from getting the essentials right first.

What to do if your site is missing things on this list

Start with the essentials. If your site is hard to update or was built on a platform that makes changes difficult, it may be time to rebuild it on something cleaner.

We build church websites starting at $500. If you want a second opinion on what your current site is missing, reach out. We will take a look and give you an honest assessment.