church explorer screenshots: map of UK with pins showing church locations, and a page with images and text

The ChurchExplorer app is THE companion guide for discovering the rich stories of churches across the UK.

With ChurchExplorer you can discover the stories of churches and follow self-guided:

  • Church interior building tours
  • Churchyard trails
  • Multi-church journeys
  • Pilgrimages (1+ days)

At the centre of every experience are the buildings that have been at the heart of our community for centuries.

Use the ChurchExplorer’s map or search feature to find churches and tours.

Save your favourites and discover their stories both in the app and through seamless links to other digital content.

We’ve scrapped annual fees to support churches. Now, a single investment puts your self-guided tour in visitors’ hands permanently.

Download the ChurchExplorer app for FREE

Download on Android Download for iOS

Self-guided experiences

Offer fascinating self-led tours of your church with ChurchExplorer, without the clutter of leaflets, banners or exhibition boards!

Church building tours

  • Showcase best features (or hidden gems) inside your church
  • Bring your tours to life with text, images and audio
  • Offer a guide to your stained glass windows or a create a fun quiz trail for children
  • Add up to 12 points of interest, each linked by a church floor plan with interactive hotspots (included in the set up costs)
  • Visitors use their phone to take the tour
  • Add a donation button(s)

Churches with a good visitor experience are more likely to receive donations from visitors. Don’t miss out on vital revenue!

Churchyard trails and pilgrimages

Extend (or start your tour) in the churchyard, in the wider local community or make it part of a multi-church journey

  • Audio auto-play – audio content automatically plays when visitors reach each point of interest
  • GPS-locked content – choose which content is only available to people who follow the tour
  • Multi-church tour – create trails with two or more churches

two churchexplorer app screenshots showing an indoor tour map and and an outdoor tour map

ChurchExplorer is now live

The video below explains the concept behind ChurchExplorer and features a church and churchyard tour.

No subscriptions, no annual fees—just a one-time setup to share your church’s stories forever!

Fill in the form below to learn how to publish a tour for your church.

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churchexplorer app icon. church tower seen through a magnifying glass

FAQs

  • Why should I publish a tour on the ChurchExplorer app?

    ChurchExplorer turns a simple visit into an engaging, self-guided journey without adding to your daily workload. It helps you preserve and share your history, provides a digital docent to welcome visitors 24/7 when volunteers aren’t available, and puts your church on the map for heritage tourists and pilgrims.

    Every week, people step into churches out of curiosity, a love for history, or a desire for a quiet moment. ChurchExplorer helps you welcome them instantly.

    Here is why churches love partnering with us:

    • Preserve and share your history: Bring your stained glass, architecture, and local heritage to life with engaging digital storytelling that visitors can access right on their smartphones.

    • A warm welcome, 24/7: You can’t always have volunteers on hand to give guided tours. ChurchExplorer acts as a digital docent, guiding visitors through your sacred space at their own pace.

    • Zero budget stress: With our one-time setup fee and absolutely no ongoing subscription costs, you get a permanent digital tool that never drains your future resources.

    • Connect with a wider community: Put your church on the map for heritage tourists, pilgrims, and local families looking to explore the hidden gems in their area.

    Publishing a tour is a simple, modern way to open your doors wider, celebrate your church’s story, and connect with the next generation of visitors.

  • Are there ongoing fees to publish tours on the ChurchExplorer app?

    No. There is a one-time setup fee and absolutely no ongoing subscription or annual fees for the ChurchExplorer app. Once your tour is live, it stays on the ChurchExplorer app forever, allowing you to share your church’s stories without any recurring hits to your parish budget.

  • How much does it cost to publish a tour on ChurchExplorer?

    We have scrapped annual fees to keep things simple. You pay a single, one-off setup fee of £500 (ex vat) to publish your tour. Once live, your content stays on the ChurchExplorer app forever, with no recurring subscription costs or maintenance hits to your parish budget. Discounts are offered for having more than one tour at your church.

  • Can we include donation buttons in our digital tour?

    Yes, you can easily integrate donation buttons directly into your ChurchExplorer tour. This allows visitors who are moved by the history and stories they discover to support your church financially with a single tap, right from their smartphones.

  • Why would my church have more than one tour on the ChurchExplorer app?

    A church can host multiple tours on the ChurchExplorer app to offer visitors distinct, themed storytelling experiences based on their specific historical or architectural interests. Rather than overwhelming visitors with a single long route, you can segment your heritage into targeted digital guides:

    • Stained Glass Window Tours: Highlighting the artistry, theological meaning, and creators behind specific windows.

    • Military History & War Memorial Trails: Uncovering the local impact of global conflicts through churchyard graves, roll of honour boards, and regiments.

    • Notable People & Genealogy Guides: Introducing visitors to prominent figures, historic landowners, or fascinating former residents buried on site.

    • Architecture & Hidden Gems: Explaining structural changes across the centuries, from Saxon foundations to Victorian restorations, including masons’ marks, grafitti and hidden carvings.

    Offering multiple themed tours keeps content digestible, encourages repeat visits, and appeals to niche heritage tourists.

  • Can we offer self-guided tours if our church is often locked?

    Yes. ChurchExplorer acts as a 24/7 digital docent. Even when the physical building is closed you can opt for churchyard tours to highlight external features visible at any time. You can also include a digital ‘building tour’ within the app to show visitors what lies behind the locked doors and provide links to your website to show when you are open for future visits.

  • Does the app require visitors to have mobile signal at the church?

    No. The ChurchExplorer app is designed to work perfectly in areas with poor or no signal. Visitors can download tour content (at home or via your church Wi-Fi) before they arrive, allowing them the full tour experience without needing any mobile connectivity or data on-site.

  • What technical support do we need to provide?

    Very little. AT Creative manages the technical deployment, app store listings, and GPS integration/interactive indoor floor plans. You simply provide the historical content, images, and audio, and we build and publish the experience for you. AT Creative can also support you with content creation from research to audio production.

  • Is there a web version of the ChurchExplorer app?

    Not currently AT Creative are assessing the use case for this. A web-based version of the ChurchExplorer app would allow churches with a strong Wi-Fi set up to offer tours with the need to download an app. This could be advantageous for visitors that don’t want to download an app or don’t have room on their phone. If a web-based church tour would benefit your church then please get in touch via the contact form.

Case study

The Steeplechase: Cambridgeshire’s Civil War Churches trail, by the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and the Diocese of Ely, has been published on the ChurchExplorer app.

It aims to reveal stories of key figures from the era, such as Major General John Disbrowe, the Earl of Manchester, and Oliver Cromwell, all of whom had deep roots in the county. The trail guides visitors through various parish churches and cathedrals, offering a glimpse into the turbulent times of the Civil War. You can read more about the trail on the Diocese of Ely website and of course try it out on the app. Samuel Pedlar offers his thoughts below.

We were thrilled to discover the ChurchExplorer app, and its ability to bring history to life with interactive features, stunning images, and captivating stories. The Church Trails section is a game-changer for us, fostering collaboration that allows churches across a region to create a rich, unified narrative of their shared heritage. Partnering with AT Creative on the ChurchExplorer app has been a great joy, resulting in an immersive and accessible experience that everyone can enjoy—whether riding, striding, driving, or even exploring from the comfort of home. I will be encouraging more churches across the Diocese of Ely to interact with the app and discover the benefits of interpretation like this.

Samuel Pedlar, Diocese of Ely Church and Community Support Adviser

Publish a tour for your church

To register your interest in ChurchExplorer or publishing a self-guided church tour please complete the form below.