How to be A Welcoming Church

Thank you for using the Welcome to Church course! We are delighted to share our learning and best practices for making our churches more welcoming. We kindly ask that you credit Swansea & Brecon Diocese when using this material.

Our hope is that this course helps churches across the Church in Wales become welcoming, inclusive, and accessible spaces where people can encounter Jesus and grow in faith.

May God bless you richly and enjoy the journey!

Mandy Bayton
Director of Mission
Swansea & Brecon Diocese

Welcoming people to church is more than just inviting them to services—it's about welcoming them into our lives and into the church community. We all want to feel like we belong, and the church should be a place where everyone feels included.

A warm welcome can be a pivotal moment in someone's faith journey. When people feel known, valued, and loved, churches often experience growth. This training will explore practical ways to make our gatherings, both in person and online, more welcoming through warm, loving, and clear communication.

People often begin their church journey in different ways. Understanding these entry points helps us create multiple pathways for connection.

A Personal Invitation

The easiest welcome is through a personal invitation. Ideally, the person inviting explains what to expect and accompanies the guest to a service or an event. Invitations can also happen:

• Online – through your website and social media
• Through existing church activities
• Through community events

Church Website & Social Media

A well-maintained online presence is crucial. Consider these points:

• Keep service times and event details updated
• Use engaging, friendly, and accessible language
• Avoid jargon (e.g., explain what "Eucharist" means)
• Ensure contact details are easy to find
• Answer frequent questions (e.g., Can I bring my dog to church?)
• Provide an overview of what happens during a service
• Offer an option for people to share any needs or concerns in advance

Church Noticeboards

Your physical presence in the community matters too:

• Keep them clear, tidy, and current
• Avoid clutter
• Ensure service and activities' dates and times are easy to read
• Make them visually engaging and welcoming
• Ensure contact details are current and easily seen

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

When people enter our church, what do they see? Is it warm and inviting, cluttered and chaotic or cold and uninviting?

Practical Tips for Welcoming People

Small gestures make a significant difference:

• Warm smiles and friendly greetings — "Good morning! It's lovely to see you today."
• Avoid assumptions — Don't ask "Is this your first time?" (They may have attended before)
• Be identifiable — Welcomers should wear name badges or lanyards
• Stay available — Don't disappear as soon as the service starts; latecomers may need guidance
• Explain the order of service — Offer gentle guidance on when to sit, stand, or join in
• Provide connect cards — Allow visitors to share their contact details (ensuring GDPR compliance)
• Encourage congregation engagement — Remind members to look out for newcomers rather than just chatting with friends
• Ensure accessibility — Offer large print materials, sign language interpretation, audio description and seating assistance
• Clear signposting — Mark toilets, disabled access, where children/youth groups meet
• Say goodbye! — "It was lovely to have you with us today" leaves a lasting impression

Making sense of service sheets and books can be daunting for newcomers. When handing out materials, take a moment to ask if they would like anything explained. This small gesture can make a big difference.

Service Sheets & Orders of Service

Anglican services often involve a lot of text. Thoughtfully designing these materials makes them more accessible:

• Clear Instructions — Indicate when to stand, sit, and speak
• Consistency from Leaders — Service leaders should follow the printed instructions
• Welcoming Notice Sheets — Include a welcoming statement and invitation for newcomers

The Offering

For many visitors, the offering or collection during a service could be unfamiliar or unexpected. To help people feel comfortable, consider including a simple explanation in your notice sheet or service introduction:

• Clearly state when the offering/collection will take place and its purpose
• If your church has a card reader, provide clear instructions on where it is located and how to use it
• Reassure visitors that there is no obligation to give

Not everyone is familiar with church services, so it can be helpful to provide an explanation on your website, in your notice sheet and/or church bulletin about what to expect. This could include a step-by-step guide from the moment people arrive to when they leave.

Suggested Provisions

• Order of Service: Send a copy in advance
• Welcoming Support: Arrange for someone to meet them outside and sit with them
• Guided Introduction: Show them around the church before the service
• Children & Youth: Provide details about groups or welcoming spaces with activities
• Hearing Support: Hearing loop available
• Signed Services: Sign language interpretation
• Visual Support: Audio descriptors available
• Accessibility: Step-free access and accessible toilets
• Reading Assistance: Someone to sit with them and provide guidance
• Online Worship: Link to YouTube Channel/Zoom meeting

A warm welcome doesn't end after the first visit—it's important to have a plan in place to help newcomers feel part of the Church community.

Next Steps for Welcoming

• Has the person returned? Make a point to say hello and check in with them
• Host newcomers — Equip families or individuals to invite newcomers for lunch or coffee
• Newcomers' gathering — Host regular events to introduce people to the church
• Connect cards — Follow up with a short email or telephone call
• Clear discipleship pathway — Ensure there's a structured way for people to explore faith through courses such as Alpha, Pilgrim, Christianity Explored, or Advent courses

At first this might seem like a lot to organise, but once a strong welcoming culture is in place, it will become second nature to both your welcomers and the wider church.

With a clear approach to welcoming and inclusion, your church will naturally become a place where people feel at home and want to return.