I avoided calling this post ‘Back to CartoonChurch Sunday’ by a small margin, but there wasn’t much in it. But anyway, I’d like to welcome people who have come back to CartoonChurch.com after a bit of an absence.

Let me explain. Over the last month there has been a considerable amount of work and general toil taking place, partly on this website, but most especially behind the scenes. Here is what has been going on and things that have changed:

30 new cartoons uploaded. I’ve been posting them here on the blog, on Twitter and on Facebook, but if you missed any the cartoons section has them all. There will be more to come, particularly as a new bookful of cartoons is on its way.

Improvements to the cartoon licensing process. This is really the big thing that has involved the most work, but to an onlooker it may not be very apparent. Let’s just say that things have been made a lot more efficient. People who would like to use the cartoons in their churches who sign up from now will have an actual licence they can print (gasps of amazement) and communication should be much improved. This is due to the new ace admin department – about which more in a moment.

100* minor tweaks to make the website more usable and attractive. There is more that could be done I’m sure, but the site does, I hope, look a bit better than it did a month ago. I suspect I’m the only one who will notice (for instance) the new shade of blue, new header image and removal of out-of-date information from circa 2005, but hopefully additional features such as the ability to select a random cartoon (try it) and a CartoonChurch favourites section will prove useful. *Made up figure.

A new occasional CartoonChurch newsletter. Part of getting the databases sorted out has involved laying the sturdy plinth necessary for the sending-out of a new CartoonChurch newsletter. It will be for those who’d like to hear about the latest cartoons and other developments by email. There may also be exclusive content. You can sign up here (note that not all newsletters will be personally delivered by a bishop).

I’ve written to former licence holders, mostly people who have previously used my work in their local church, to come back and take a look at the extra cartoons and the updated website, and to renew licences if they’d like to. Hence this post. If that is you: welcome! I hope you enjoy looking around, and please keep in touch.

A huge thank you needs to be said at this point to Renou Um, who I’ve been working with on the admin side of CartoonChurch things over the last month. Without Renou, and her new company, All May Have, (see also: Twitter / Facebook), the licensing / newsletter / database side of things wouldn’t have happened. A huge amount has been achieved very quickly, which is marvellous. Thanks too to everyone who has posted kind comments in all manner of places whilst I have been adding the new cartoons. It has been much appreciated.

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