A church’s logo communicates the values, character, and atmosphere of the church as it is printed on the website, handouts, prayer cards, flyers, mail outs, t-shirts, and beyond. But what makes a great church logo? Iconography, typography, and color are important elements that, when used appropriately, combine to embody the personality of the organization behind the logo. Here are eight great church logos we’ve stumbled upon that deserve some credit.
Bethel Temple
Hampton, VA
www.betheltemple.com
Bethel Temple’s ancient-meets-modern style logo conveys a sense of tradition and a respect for the new. The warm, earth-tone colors possess a welcoming quality, and the serif font communicates strength and sophistication.
Houston NW Church
Houston, TX
www.hnw.org
Houston NW Church’s logo expresses a personal, less polished approach to church. The simple hand-sketched cross, though cliché in the world of church logos, indicates an informal atmosphere and a value of the arts. Notice that the sketched red line in the middle of the text helps tie the two elements, text and image, together.
Kaleo Church
Houston, TX
www.kaleohouston.com
The simple, polished look of Kaleo Church’s logo has a strong Web 2.0 feel, similar to an iPhone’s reflective buttons. Kaleo’s logo lacks an actual icon or symbol, making the logo itself a wordmark. The mixture of hand-drawn text with sans serif type balances artistic and technologically advanced design elements.
Mariners Church
Irvine, CA
www.marinerschurch.org
Mariners Church’s logo combines a sharp yet fluid icon with strong typography and elegant colors. But what exactly is the icon? Is it a flame or a wave or a sailboat? Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter because the active form speaks for itself.
Mountain Lake Church
Cumming, GA
www.mountainlakechurch.com
Mountain Lake Church’s logo exudes a serene, restful vibe with its warm colors and soft serif font. Though the icon could be considered an obvious “see-and-say” when side by side with the text, alone it clearly communicates the church’s name.
West Coast Life Church
Murrieta, CA
www.westcoastlife.tv
West Coast Life Church’s use of a simple brush stroke icon with bold typography and light colors creates a sophisticated image. The mix of both serif and sans serif fonts adds a delicate touch to the brushed “W” icon. These design choices create an inviting icon that communicates a hip appreciation of the arts.
Mars Hill Church
Seattle, WA
www.marshillchurch.org
Mars Hill Church employs a simple, bold typography combined with a memorable icon to communicate a trendy, young-professional Seattle vibe. The commercial icon makes a bold statement.
Watermark Community
Dallas, TX
www.watermark.org
Watermark Community Church’s logo combines sharp, strong type with a soft and playful icon. With an icon that has movement and resembles a cattle brand, the strong type and rounded edges complete the eclectic logo.