Signs, signage and sites – is your church top secret?

3 Myths about signage and websites:

#1 Everyone knows where our church is

#2 Everyone knows where everything is in our church

#3 Church websites aren’t that important

 

Activity: What is your reaction to these myths?

Website

If someone moved into your town, and wanted to find the Catholic church, how would they go about it?

If you google “Catholic church” in your town, does your church come up?

When you’re on the website, is it easy to find times of Masses?

Can you easily find the address?

Are there parking instructions?

Activity: Google your parish website and answer those questions.  Think about what needs to be different to make it accessible to newcomers.

Signage

Can you find your church from the road?

Is it clear what the car parking arrangements?

Are your toilets signposted?

Is there any signage for families, e.g. when children’s liturgy is on, where the baby change toilet is?

Finally, if you have coffee after Mass, how easy is it to find?

Activity: Jot down what the main “Aha” moments are from this?

Next Steps

Before you do anything else, become a mystery worshipper:

  1. Form a team – get some other people involved
  2. Mystery worship (even if online) at a parish or alternative church near you
  3. Try and look at your own community with fresh eyes – even better, ask someone to mystery worship

Download the first Entertaining Angels handout here:Entertaining angels handout