Church of England churches can get free resources, free training and even free software from the national church.
Did you know that you can sell tickets to your events online with free event ticketing software, take requests for church room bookings online and take applications for Life Events online too. The Church Organiser software will even help you produce the marriage document for printing. AChurchNearYou.com Resource Hub has free stock images that you can use, along with downloadable hymns and worship songs you can use in your church too.
Many of these tools are free to Church of England churches because they are paid for by the Archbishops’ Council using funding from the Church Commissioners. Visit cofe.io/resources and digitalversion.uk/churchpack to find out more about what's available.
If you already have administration tools you are happy with, you can of course continue to use those. If you are not happy with your current solution, or don't have any budget for a paid-for solution, our free options may suit you.
- Free website for your church or benefice: AChurchNearYou.com (every church has a listing on AChurchNearYou.com, but your listing quickly becomes a full website when you populate and customise all the available sections).
- Free downloadable tracks of hymns and worship songs, ideal if you do not have access to an organist or musicians, or are streaming or pre-recording online services: AChurchNearYou.com Resource Hub.
- Free stock images: AChurchNearYou.com Resource Hub.
- Free graphic design package: churches can apply for Canva Pro for free, this blog explains how.
- Free survey tool to find out about demographics, discipleship and evangelism in your worshipping community: Church Development Tool.
- Free online service register to save you time with completing your Annual Parish Return: Online Services Register.
- Free room booking system: The Church Organiser.
- Free event ticketing system: The Church Organiser. If you prefer to pay for Eventbrite, make sure you access the reduced rate for churches by logging in or registering with Parish Buying.
- Free tool to help with administration of baptisms, weddings and funerals (‘Life Events’): The Church Organiser.
- Free system for regular giving: Parish Giving Scheme allows people to set up one-off or regular gifts to your church. Automatically claims Gift Aid on your behalf, to reduce administration and improve your cash flow. There is a small transaction charge for processing one-off gifts.
- Free software for online and contactless giving: Give A Little enables you to collect online and contactless donations, by connecting with a SumUp and/or Stripe account. The Premium version of Give A Little (free to churches until at least the end of 2024) allows you to customise campaigns with images and videos and collect Gift Aid declarations. SumUp and Stripe charge a small transaction rate for processing donations.