What is the aim of the site?
The website was launched in 2014 and has been in operation for over 10 years. The aim was (and still is) to provide the public with information on church events, services and opening times.
It is also a platform for the local community, providing them with the local newsletter each week, information on upcoming events on the Local News section and also videos of weddings and funerals.
How was the site built and how has it evolved?
When a website has been used for over 10 years, the design tends to go through a number of changes. The first design was more like a traditional site with a bit of a rigid feel to it.
The site today feels very different, with lots of space and making full use of the screen. The latest site also takes into account mobile users and is designed to work on a mobile phone, a laptop and a tablet.
What challengers have come up and how were they resolved?
One of the critical questions that came up early on was how to keep the local community informed on the latest news. A special area had to be created on the home page called “Local News”. This has now become the main focal point of the site. It has been designed so that its easy for developers to update and clear enough for the local community to quickly access it.
Another issue was the location of the weekly newsletters. They were originally displayed at the bottom of the page but a decision was made recently to move them to the top. This allows the viewer to access them straight away instead of having to unnecessary scroll to the bottom of the page.
How has the response been since the site launched?
Since the launch of the site in 2014, the design has been through a process of improvement and modernization. It has had four complete redesigns to keep up with modern web design trends. The development team have worked closely with Fr John (the main priest of the parish) to ensure that the latest news and newsletters are constantly up to date.
During the lockdown, the site was particularly useful as it was able to reach out to members of the parish that could be isolated. The site is able to livestream masses, allowing anyone self isolating to still be a part of the community and have a point of contact.
