Fall is officially here! It’s time to start planning your 2026 technology calendar. First and foremost is your website and the content you plan to to show there. Stats though show that churches aren’t taking advantage of a web presence like other entities (non-profit or commercial). According to oneeighty.digital, about 46.3% of churches (in the sample studied) have no website at all. Many use Facebook as their site but even then, those pages aren’t actively used.
Even if they do have a site, a large number of those sites aren’t adequately helping their congregations. Also in the study, 59% of the churches do not offer any form of online giving.
Having a website with a memorable domain name is key to helping current congregants and potential new ones find you. And allowing them to give is key to their stewardship and your growth. There are though so many more things you can do with a website to bring people closer to your church.
Here’s a rundown of the major trends (as of late 2025) in how churches are designing and building websites—and how those are likely to evolve heading into 2026. If you like, I can also show examples or what “best in class” sites are doing.
Key Trends for Church Websites: 2025 → 2026
These trends reflect broader web design / user experience shifts, but tailored to the needs and sensitivities of a church / ministry context.
| Trend | What It Means / Why It Matters | What to Watch for in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile-First & Accessibility as Baseline | Most people now browse via mobile, and accessibility (screen readers, contrast, keyboard navigation) is non-negotiable. (Epic Life Creative) | Expect even stricter standards and more “automated accessibility” tools (AI audits, accessible templates) |
| Multimedia, Video & Rich Storytelling | Static text is giving way to immersive storytelling—hero videos, testimonies, sermon clips, audio devotionals, interactive visuals. (oneeighty.digital) | More livestream integration (with low latency), interactive video (choose your path), in-browser micro-videos |
| Personalization & Member Portals | Rather than a “one size fits all” site, churches are offering dynamic homepages or content that change based on visitor type (guest, member, volunteer). (Epic Life Creative) | Smarter AI-driven content suggestions, more granular settings (e.g. show youth events vs senior events), “next steps” funnels |
| Interactivity & Micro-animations | Subtle animations, hover effects, scroll-triggered transitions, interactive maps, accordion sections, etc. make a site feel alive. (oneeighty.digital) | More custom interactions, but balanced—avoiding overuse so as not to slow things down or distract |
| Strong Visual Branding / Cohesive Identity | Consistent use of color, typography, imagery that reflect church’s personality. Clean layouts, whitespace, minimal clutter. (ChurchTrac) | Possibly more use of “brutalist/minimalist hybrid” (bold typography, expressive color), dynamic theming (dark mode, seasonal skins) |
| Content Strategy & SEO for Local Reach | Optimizing for “near me” searches, consistently updated content (blogs, events), local pages, SEO for each campus or service location. (ResourceUMC) | Greater reliance on voice search optimization, structured data (schema.org for events, sermons), AI-assisted content generation aligned with SEO |
| Integrated Giving & Next-Step Funnels | Donor/giving tools, “start here” or “I’m new” funnels, next-step calls to action throughout the site. (Church Brand Guide) | More frictionless giving (wallet integration, cryptocurrencies, stocks), deeper integration with church management software (CRMs) such as Faith Teams |
| AI / Automation in Content & Support | Use of chatbots, AI to help draft content, automate site updates, or answer FAQs. (ResourceUMC) | Smarter AI assistants (on-site AI pastors / guides, AI-driven sermon search), personalization using AI predictions |
| Hybrid & Virtual Experience Support | Embracing that not everyone attends in person—embedding livestreams, video archives, virtual community. (ResourceUMC) | More seamless transitions between in-person and digital, AR/VR experimentations, virtual “first visit” experiences |
| Minimalism with Bold Touches | Clean layouts, minimal distractions, but strong typography or bold visual elements to give character. (elevationpoint.church) | Even more emphasis on functional minimalism, but occasional “wow” elements (e.g. creative scroll transitions, micro-interactions) |
What Makes a Church Website Stand Out (Based on Examples)
Looking at top church websites of 2025, here are recurring features/themes:
- They put visitor questions front and center (when do you meet, where, what do you believe). (ChurchTrac)
- Use of welcome videos or hero videos to “show” rather than just “tell.” (oneeighty.digital)
- Micro-animations or dynamic elements as you scroll. (Church Juice)
- Clear CTAs (call to action) and easy navigation for new visitors or guests. (ChurchTrac)
- Consistency in imagery and branding across pages. (twotencreatives.com)
Risks, Pitfalls & What to Avoid
- Overloading with gimmicks (too many animations, pop-ups) that slow performance or distract.
- No links to church activities—You’ve go to show links to giving, events and groups.
- Fragile personalization—if your “smart” content breaks or shows irrelevant stuff, visitors will feel alienated.
- Poor mobile experience—if the mobile version is just a shrunken desktop, you’ll lose many users.
- Disconnect between online and offline—digital promises that don’t match what visitors experience in person can betray trust.
Examples of Churches Doing It Well Now
Here are several church websites that are often highlighted in “best of” roundups, along with what they are doing right (or creatively). Many of them already incorporate the trends we discussed earlier.
| Church | What They Do Well / What You Can Learn | Unique or Emerging Features |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Church, NYC | Right when you land, you see a community-centered video. Navigation is clear, with “Plan a visit,” “Watch online,” “Give,” etc., right up front. ChurchTrac | Hero video + overlay CTAs; strong clarity for new visitors |
| Renew Church (Orange County, CA) | Uses a near-brutalist / bold design language while maintaining a user-friendly experience. Rotating text and consistent imagery make it feel dynamic. Church Juice+1 | Bold type, minimalistic, dynamic text transitions |
| Real Life Church (Sacramento, CA) | Excellent typography, hierarchy, whitespace. The look is modern but inviting, not cold. Church Juice | Balanced visuals + content; feels cohesive |
| Fairhaven Church (Dayton, Ohio area) | Uses micro-animations (scroll transitions, subtle color shifts) and clean layouts so content is digestible. Church Juice | Animated background effects, clean event sections |
| Seacoast Church (SC / online presence) | Big full-screen video banner, countdown to next service, member-login area. My Codeless Website | Combines “invite new people” and “serve existing members” on same homepage |
| Austin Ridge Bible Church | Multisite site with clean aesthetic, strong imagery, structured layout for branch campuses. anedot.com | Good multisite navigation, clarity across locations |
| Websites built via Faith Teams Sites. | Churches using Faith Teams Sites have access to templates that emphasize simplicity, responsiveness, consistent branding, and ease of updates.. Take a look at Litchfield Hills Church | The value here is in “solid template + flexibility” rather than fully custom design |
What These Examples Illustrate (Trends in Practice)
From studying the above, here are some common strengths and risky over-extensions to watch out for:
Common Strengths (Things to Replicate)
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“Above the fold” clarity for new visitors — Immediately visible service times, locations, “what to expect,” “visit us” CTAs.
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Hero media (videos or image sliders) that communicate community and feel—not just aesthetics.
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Balanced front door / back door content — striking a balance between making the site captivating to newcomers and giving depth for your current congregation.
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Micro-animations & scroll transitions that are subtle, not flashy or overdone.
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Cohesive branding / imagery — consistent color use, unified photo style, typography hierarchy.
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Simplified navigation / cognitive load reduction — not too many menu items, use of “mega menus” or dropdowns when needed, hiding secondary options until needed.
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Templates / platforms that support growth & ease of maintenance — many high-performing churches use platforms or systems built for churches, which make updates easier for non-tech staff.
Risks / Overextensions to Avoid
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Letting design gimmicks (heavy animations, auto-playing videos) slow performance or distract.
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Allowing “smart personalization” to become so aggressive that returning users see weird or irrelevant content.
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Using hero videos or media that are high concept but don’t actually show the heart of the church or what a first-time guest wants to know.
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Neglecting accessibility (alt text, contrast, keyboard navigation) in favor of aesthetic flourishes.
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Overcomplicating navigation (too many nested menus, ambiguous labels).
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Designing too much for desktop and compromising the mobile experience.
Conclusion & Recommendations (Heading into 2026)
As you think about where you want your church’s website to land in 2026, here are ways to frame the target and the roadmap:
What Your “Ideal” 2026 Church Website Might Look Like
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Welcoming, emotionally resonant, especially in the first few seconds (via video / media / images) to help a visitor feel your community.
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Crystal clear direction and paths for different user types (new visitor, regular attendee, volunteer, etc.).
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Adaptive / smart content — content that shifts or suggests next steps based on what the user is likely to care about, but done in a lightweight, trust-building manner.
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Rich but light interactivity — micro-animations, scroll effects, hover cues—but all optimized for speed.
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Simple links to church systems (giving, church management software, member portals, small groups, calendar, etc.).
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Highly accessible and inclusive — meeting or exceeding WCAG standards, usable for people with disabilities.
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Scalable, maintainable, and staff-friendly — a system that non-developers on your team can update, without breaking things.
Steps / Priorities to Get There
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Audit your current site against the trends & risks listed above. Identify which gaps are most hurting usability or visitor conversion. If you don’t yet have a site or rely solely on Facebook, it’s time to take a first step with a dedicated website.
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Prototype a refreshed homepage with hero media + CTA structure + minimal navigation to validate clarity and emotional impact.
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Layer in micro-interactions selectively—pick 2 or 3 places where animated transitions or hover effects enhance rather than distract.
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Test performance and mobile experience constantly—before adding anything fancy, make sure page load, responsiveness, and ease are solid.
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Invest in staff training / content workflow — make sure editors, volunteers, and communicators can easily update imagery, events, pages without breaking layout.
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Plan for “future features,” but degrade gracefully — for example, AI personalization or chatbots are promising, but they must not break user trust. Launch them in controlled ways.
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Measure & iterate — use analytics and user feedback (especially from first-time guests) to see what is working and where users struggle.
