Church Website Design in the 2010s: The First Digital Era

• September 11, 2025
• Jesandy
• 6 comments

Back in the early 2010s, church website design played a much bigger role than it does today. Before Instagram feeds, Pinterest boards, or YouTube livestreams, a church’s website was often its one and only “digital front door”. It shaped the first impression for visitors, served as the main hub for sermons, and was sometimes the only way to know if a church even existed

Yet at that time, very few churches cared about having a well-designed website. Many had none at all, while others put up very simple websites that looked more like bulletin boards than reflections of their community.. That’s why the ones that did stand out felt special, and I saved their screenshots as rare examples of creativity and care. Some of those churches are still around, others are gone, but their websites remain like little digital time capsules.

In this article, I want to share a handful of those inspiring church websites from around the world. Each one tells a story, not only about design, but also about a moment in time when the internet – the first era – was becoming an essential part of how faith communities connected with people.

Looking Back: Church Website Design (The List)

Central Christian Church

Central Christian Church Website Design Back Then

About centralchristian: We are a non-denominational Christian Church on the west-side of Colorado Springs that is all about helping people find their way back to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Plain and simple, that’s who we are.

We are a church family of Real people, who strive to be Relevant in our approach, Radical in our faith, and Relational in our philosophy. We have a passion to lead people from no relationship with Jesus to a totally devoted follower of Jesus

Sojourn Community Church

sojourn community church – rethink church rethink life

About: The vision of Sojourn is to see the earth filled with the glory of God as men and women become more like Jesus. God’s fame spreads as Christians take to the world the good news of who Jesus is, what he has done, and how we are to live. We believe that there is no corner of the earth and no aspect of our lives that is not affected and transformed by this news!

Mastering The Bible

Mastering The Bible by BTE Ministries

At BTE Ministries our goal is to be a vital part of the building up of the saints by furnishing the believer with the necessary tools to study the Bible. Mastering Biblical Greek course puts a very powerful tool into the hands of the Believer.

Central City Church

About Central City Church: Welcome to the Central City Church website! We’re glad you’re here. If this is your first visit, be sure to click the ‘New Here’ button to learn more about who we are, what we believe, and how you can get connected.

Saline Community Church

Saline Community Church

About:

We are promoting a culture where people in the midst of a transient environment experience a sense of belonging and do life together while deepening their journey with Jesus Christ.

We are promoting a culture where the truth is not just embraced in what we teach but more importantly in how we live.

We are promoting a culture where we care deeply enough to make a difference in the community and world around us.

We are promoting a culture where people can experience their new life in Christ by being changed through the work of the Holy Spirit who restores our true identity as sons and daughters of God.

Reflection: What These Sites Represented

These websites were more than digital presences, they were expressions of identity. Some focused on strong teaching, others on community life, and a few leaned into aesthetics and branding. Together, they captured a moment when churches were experimenting with what it meant to “be online”.

Many of these churches have changed, and some no longer exist, but their websites remain snapshots of their era, especially the are where website become a thing, plus a reminder that design is never just about looks, but about the values and stories a community wants to share.

Church Website Design Back Then vs. Now

Before, a church website design was the main place where everything happened. Sermons, event schedules, contact details: it was all there, often updated every week or monthly. For many visitors, it was the first and only way to get a sense of the church.

Today, much of that role has shifted to social media. Instagram gives a glimpse of the community, YouTube has become the home for sermons, Facebook is where events get shared, or even Tiktok that share church’s behind the scene theme. The website is still there, but in many cases it feels secondary, more like a simple landing page or just an archive.

And yet, websites last in a way that social media doesn’t. A Facebook post disappears in the feed, but an old website can be found years later. That’s why the ones I saved feel so valuable now: they are small but lasting reminders of how churches once expressed themselves online, long before the social platforms took over.

To be honest..

I’m glad I saved these examples. They remind me of a time when finding a church with a thoughtful website felt rare and exciting. Looking back, I see them not just as designs, but as digital legacies, as matter as evidence of creativity, community, and care.

Digital presence is fleeting, but the values expressed through it leave a lasting mark. Whether your church or organization leans on social media today or invests in a website, think of what story you’re telling and what kind of time capsule it might become for someone years from now.