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Celtic Cross
 

Internet User Statistics

The Internet has become one of the main forms of communication throughout the world today. People from all walks of life log online to search for consumer goods, train times, TV listings, news reports – with billions of web pages available to search on the World Wide Web, it is the most advanced and regularly accessed communication tool in the world.

The United Kingdom has the third highest internet usage in the world, based on population percentage. Approximately 63% of UK households have access to the internet and this number is forecasted to increase significantly over the next five years (200%). How does this affect church communities? More and more people, in the UK and throughout the world, are using the internet to reach out to their local (and some times international) church communities. If your church is not represented online, people won’t find you. We have found that where a church has spent the time and resources in developing a professional website, it has increased the number of visitors to the church as well as communication between local parishes and communities.

UK Internet Statistics Comparison

 Internet user statistics comparison from 1994 to 2007

Extensive research indicates that part of the Internet’s appeal is its “always on” presence. Additionally, the Internet provides information for those who would prefer avoiding direct contact, at least initially, with faith groups; the links enlarge the available material; and e-mail in particular provides opportunities for outreach and mission activities. Faith communities in America, for example, maintain both physical and cyber-presences.

The Internet is being used to strengthen the faith, spiritual growth, and the faith of the members; to evangelize and perform missions in communities around the world; and to perform a variety of pious and practical everyday activities. Research found that 83% of its respondents felt the Web sites helped congregational life “some” or a “great deal,” while 81% agreed that e-mail, at some level, helped improve the spiritual life of the congregation. E-mail serves as a binding element, flowing in all directions, communicating fellowship and faith activities, and reaching out to other faith communities.

Church Website Statistics

83% of web users who use their church website say that their use has helped congregational life – 25% say it has helped a great deal.

81% say the use of email by ministers, staffs, and congregation helps the spiritual life of the congregation to some extent – 35% a great deal.

91% say email has helped congregation members and members of the staff stay more in touch with each other – 51% say it has helped a great deal.

63% say email has helped the congregation connect at least a bit more to the surrounding community – 17% say it has helped a lot.

Most Popular Church Features

83% encourage visitors to attend

77% post mission statements, sermons, or other text concerning their faith.

76% have links to denomination and faith-related sites.

60% have links to scripture studies or devotional material.

56% post schedules, meeting minutes, and other internal communications.

International Church Statistics
The United States has approximately 128 million Internet users

64% of the nation’s 128 million Internet users have done things online that relate to religious or spiritual matters.

Nearly two-thirds of the adults who use the Internet in the United States have used the Internet for faith-related matters. That represents nearly 82 million Americans.

38% of Internet users have sent and received email with spiritual content.

35% have sent or received online greeting cards related to religious holidays.

32% have gone online to read news accounts of religious events and affairs.

21% have sought information about how to celebrate religious holidays.

17% have looked for information about where they could attend religious services.

Some 28% of the online faithful said they had used the Internet to seek or exchange information about their own religious faith or tradition with others

26% said they had used the Internet to seek or exchange information about the religious faiths or traditions of others
 

The Church Website Design Project © 2007
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