A Church Near You (ACNY) is a powerful resource that connects people with local churches. Whether looking for a regular Sunday service, a special event, or specific church features, ACNY makes it easier for members of the public to discover churches in their area. This guide will help you understand how to make the most of ACNY, ensuring that your church is easily found by people in your local communities that are looking to get involved.
Why Use A Church Near You?
ACNY is a major platform for discovering churches, services, and events. It helps both locals and visitors find relevant church information, including:
- Service times and details.
- Special events and activities at local churches.
- Church features and facilities, such as accessibility, parking, and more.
Whilst ACNY is a fantastic tool, it’s not always being used to its full potential. By ensuring that your church’s listing is up to date and well-maintained, you’ll help others find your church more easily and get the information they need quickly.
Key Features of A Church Near You
Here’s a closer look at some of the features of ACNY that can help your church stand out and ensure your community can find you:
Church Profiles
ACNY allows churches to create detailed profiles that include:
- Service Times: Add details about your regular services and special events.
- Contact Information: Include phone numbers, email addresses, and website links.
- Location Information: Display your church's address, a map, and directions.
By keeping this information updated, people can easily find and contact your church.
Tagging Facilities and Features
A newer feature on ACNY allows you to tag your church’s facilities and features. This ensures that anyone searching for specific amenities (such as accessibility features, children's activities, or LGBTQ+ friendly spaces) can easily find your church. Tags like "Wheelchair Accessible", "Free Parking", and "PLF (Pride and LGBTQ+ Friendly)" are now available, allowing people to find churches that offer the specific services they need.
During Lent, the Lent and Easter page makes it even easier for people to search for specific services and events such as "Good Friday", "Easter Day" and even "Hot Cross Buns"! It is even more important that tags are updated during this time of year. If your event isn't tagged, it won't come up on people's searches and it may mean that we are losing potential congregation members at these most significant services in the Christian calendar.
Event Listings
ACNY allows churches to list one-off events and activities such as:
- Church fairs
- Fundraisers
- Study groups
- Community outreach programs
If your church hosts a special event, it’s easy to add it to your ACNY listing so local residents and visitors can find and attend. Again, adding as many tags to these events as possible will help your church appear in people's searches.
How People Will Find Your Church
It's important to understand how people will use ACNY to find your church. Here is how they can use the website.
- Search by Location: The search bar can be used to find local churches by entering a postcode or town name.
- Filter by Event Type: Once a location has been set, the search bar can be used to find specfic events.
- Filter by Features: Specific features can be searched for as well once a location has been set.
Tips for Using A Church Near You More Effectively
- Use the Seasonal Tags: ACNY can be used for key times in the Christian Calendar like Advent, Christmas, and Easter. If you have seasonal services or activities, make sure these are tagged appropriately.
- Engage with the Community: ACNY is a great way to connect with others by sharing your social accounts. Be sure to respond to inquiries about your page and encourage your congregation to use the platform to stay informed.
- Keep your profile up to date: It’s important to review your church’s profile regularly to ensure all details are up to date. If service times change, or if you're hosting new events, be sure to update your ACNY page so that visitors have accurate information.
- Promote Your Listing: Share your ACNY listing with your congregation through newsletters, social media, or notices at church. The more people know about it, the more likely they’ll use it to find services or events. This makes it more likely that other people will see it and get involved with all the events and services.