How to Create a Church Newsletter That Connects
Newsletters can still be relevant. They help your church stay connected beyond Sunday. From sharing updates and prayer points to highlighting stories of faith in action, a well-crafted newsletter reflects the heartbeat of your church family.
5 Principles of Effective Church Newsletter Design
Start with clarity
Prioritise the most important messages and present them clearly. Think of your newsletter as a conversation—what’s the one thing you want people to remember?Keep the layout clean
Use consistent fonts, headings, and spacing to guide the reader’s eye. White space makes your content more inviting and easier to read.Use engaging visuals
Photos from recent events or simple behind-the-scenes moments can make your newsletter feel more personal and real.Make it skimmable
Use headings, bullet points, and short sections to help readers find what matters to them quickly.Stay consistent
Choose a rhythm—monthly, fortnightly, weekly—and stick to it. Consistency builds trust and habit.
Choosing the Right Distribution Method
Your method of distribution matters. Here’s a quick overview of the options:
Printed Newsletters
Great for in-person services and older members
Top tip: Use an easy-to-read A4 folded format with space for notes
Email Newsletters
Great for wider reach and midweek reminders
Top tip: Use Mailchimp or similar for templates and analytics
Messaging Apps
Great for quick reminders
Top tip: Use WhatsApp or SMS to prompt people to check the main newsletter elsewhere
Website Hosting
Great for archiving and searchability
Top tip: Keep a “News & Updates” or blog-style section up to date
Strategy & Process: What Makes a Great Church Newsletter
What to Include
Upcoming events (with clear date/time/location info)
A short word from the pastor or team member
Praise reports and answered prayers
Key church notices (rotas, giving updates, special services)
Opportunities to get involved (volunteering, outreach)
Bible verse or devotional thought
Birthdays or milestones (if culturally appropriate)
What to Leave Out
Long blocks of text with no breaks
Internal church politics or contentious issues
Personal opinions presented as official statements
Last-minute changes (unless it’s a digital update)
Information that’s not relevant to most readers
How Often Should You Send One?
This depends on your church size, capacity, and communication culture:
Monthly is ideal for most UK churches. Enough happens to fill it, but not so often that it becomes a chore.
Fortnightly works well for active congregations or growing churches with lots to share.
Weekly can work digitally (via email), but is hard to sustain in print.
The key is consistency. Choose a rhythm you can stick to and build trust over time.
If you’re also using printed materials to welcome visitors, make sure your welcome leaflet is working as hard as it should. Read: Why Most Church Welcome Leaflets Miss the Mark—And How to Fix Yours for ideas to improve your first impression.
A good church newsletter invites people in, keeps them informed, and shows that something meaningful is happening week by week. Whether printed, emailed, or hosted online, it's one of the most overlooked tools for discipleship and connection.
If you don’t have someone on your team who can consistently handle communications—especially things like newsletters—book a call with us. We’ve created a service that gives you the benefits of a full comms team, but at a fraction of the cost. From content planning and writing to design and distribution, we’ll help you stay connected with your church family without the overwhelm.