Stanbrook Abbey
Stanbrook Abbey is a RIBA award-winning Benedictine monastery in North Yorkshire, built between 2009 and 2015 by a community of Benedictine nuns who relocated to the site from Worcester.
The challenge
When they approached us, Stanbrook Abbey did not have a clearly defined online visual identity. They were struggling with an old website which was difficult to update and no longer represented the community that they had become at their new home in Yorkshire.
The solution
Castlegate IT created an elegant yet inviting website for Stanbrook Abbey, with cohesive branding and characterful photography that creates a vivid impression of what life at the abbey is like.
The striking architecture of the abbey building was the focal point for their new logo. We incorporated its form into an intricate yet minimalist design which makes a strong and lasting impression.
The home page now includes multiple calls to action that are both clear and friendly, to display the range of ways that visitors can interact with the monastic community.
We appreciated the way the team at Castlegate worked with us, listening to our needs and hopes for the new website and bringing their expertise to make this a reality for us.
They created a website for a monastery that isn’t selling anything, but wants to share something of the timeless quality and lived reality of our Benedictine life. They took time and a genuine interest in what we do and why we do it.
We joked that the site needed to be ‘nun proof’ as we seek to manage the day to day updating of the site ourselves. It is a huge reassurance that we can contact the team at Castlegate for prompt advice and practical support if we get stuck!
The results
- Engagement with the website has risen through the ‘request a prayer’ function.
- The website successfully showcases the rich history of the monastery while also demonstrating that they are a forward- and outward-looking community.
Visit: www.stanbrookabbey.org.uk
