Authentication

To view data from churchmaps.net, you must add your unique API key to the end of every URL request path.

Example URL Format
GET https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/{resource}?key=YOUR_API_KEY

Congregations

Use these endpoints to find, search, or view information about registered congregations.

GET /v1/congs

Returns a list of all active congregations. You can use the search parameter to filter the list down.

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
keystringYESYour unique API access key.
searchstringNOFilters the list to congregations matching this name. (Limit: 1 request per second).
Sample Request
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/congs?key=demo_key_abc&search=Grand+Rapids"
Sample JSON Response
[
    {
        "group_id": "42",
        "name": "Grand Rapids First",
        "alt_name": "GR1",
        "status": "1",
        "last_edit": "2026-04-12 14:22:10"
    },
    {
        "group_id": "87",
        "name": "Grand Rapids East Congregation",
        "alt_name": "GRE",
        "status": "1",
        "last_edit": "2026-05-01 09:11:04"
    }
]
ValueDescription
nameThis will usually be the name from the Year Book unless the congragation admin changed it.
alt_nameThis will be a common alternative name, the city/town where the congregation is, or blank.
last_editThis is the last time the congregation record or a name record within the congregation has been edited. The time is in UTC.
GET /v1/congs/{id}

Returns a single, detailed congregation record matching the specific ID number, including its location map coordinates.

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
keystringYESYour unique API access key.
Sample Request
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/congs/42?key=demo_key_abc"
Sample JSON Response
{
    "group_id": "42",
    "name": "Grand Rapids First",
    "alt_name": "GR1",
    "status": "1",
    "last_edit": "2026-04-12 14:22:10",
    "subscription": "3",
    "lat": "42.9634",
    "lng": "-85.6681",
    "state_id": "23",
    "state_name": "Michigan",
    "state_code": "MI",
    "country": "US"
}
ValueDescription
nameThis will usually be the name from the Year Book unless the congragation admin changed it.
alt_nameThis will be a common alternative name, the city/town where the congregation is, or blank.
last_editThis is the last time the congregation record or a name record within the congregation has been edited. The time is in UTC.
subscriptionThis is the subscription code for the congregation. It is included so you can figure out which ones have PDF maps.
lat & lngThis will ususlly be the location of the church.

Names

Use these endpoints to access the names within a congregation and map location coordinates for those names.

GET /v1/names

Returns a list of name records belonging to a specific congregation. You must provide a congregation ID number.

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
keystringYESYour unique API access key.
cong_idintegerYESLimits the list strictly to people inside this congregation ID.
searchstringNOSearches the congregation names by first or last name. (Limit: 1 request per second).
Sample Request
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/names?cong_id=42&key=demo_key_abc&search=John"
Sample JSON Response
[
    {
        "name_id": "501",
        "name_first": "John",
        "name_last": "Doe",
        "spouse": "Jane",
        "name_type": 1,
        "lat": "42.9712",
        "lng": "-85.6554",
        "contact": {
            "phone": "616-555-0199",
            "cell": "616-555-0122",
            "cell2": null,
            "fax": null,
            "email": "johndoe@example.com",
            "website": ""
        },
        "address": {
            "street": "123 Main St NW",
            "street2": "Apt 4",
            "city": "Grand Rapids",
            "state_code": "MI",
            "postal_code": "49503"
        }
    }
]
ValueDescription
name_first The first name for individuals.
name_lastindividuals last name or the name for churches, schools, teacher homes, care homes, cemeteries, and businesses.
name_typeThis is a value of 0-6 for the type of location: 0=name, 1=business, 2=cemetery, 3=care facility, 4=teacherage, 5=shcool, 6=church.
GET /v1/names/{id}

Returns a single, specific individual's name record using their name ID.

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
keystringYESYour unique API access key.
cong_idintegerYESRequired security confirmation check for the congregation.
Sample Request
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/names/501?cong_id=42&key=demo_key_abc"
Sample JSON Response
{
    "name_id": "501",
    "name_first": "John",
    "name_last": "Doe",
    "spouse": "Jane",
    "name_type": 1,
    "lat": "42.9712",
    "lng": "-85.6554",
    "contact": {
        "phone": "616-555-0199",
        "cell": "616-555-0122",
        "cell2": null,
        "fax": null,
        "email": "johndoe@example.com",
        "website": ""
    },
    "address": {
        "street": "123 Main St NW",
        "street2": "Apt 4",
        "city": "Grand Rapids",
        "state_code": "MI",
        "postal_code": "49503"
    }
}
ValueDescription
name_first The first name for individuals.
name_lastAn individuals last name or the name for churches, schools, teacher homes, care homes, cemeteries, and businesses.
name_typeThis is a value of 0-6 for the type of location: 0=name, 1=business, 2=cemetery, 3=care facility, 4=teacherage, 5=shcool, 6=church.

Files

Use these endpoints to look up available maps and retrieve direct links to the maps in the form of PDFs. Maps are usually only available for congregations with a subscription value of 1, 2 or 3,

GET /v1/files

Returns files linked to a specific congregation. Files are automatically sorted so the newest documents appear first.

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
keystringYESYour unique API access key.
cong_idintegerYESLimits the file lookup to this specific congregation ID.
latestbooleanNOSet to 1 or true to skip the list and only return the single newest file.
Sample Request (List All Files)
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/files?cong_id=42&key=demo_key_abc"
Sample JSON Response (List All Files)
[
    {
        "file_id": "108",
        "file_name": "26-07 roster.pdf",
        "file_url": "https://www.churchmaps.net/Files/26-07 roster.pdf"
    },
    {
        "file_id": "102",
        "file_name": "26-06 roster.pdf",
        "file_url": "https://www.churchmaps.net/Files/26-06 roster.pdf"
    }
]
Sample Request (Get Newest File Only)
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/files?cong_id=42&latest=1&key=demo_key_abc"
Sample JSON Response (Get Newest File Only)
{
    "file_id": "108",
    "file_name": "26-07 roster.pdf",
    "file_url": "https://www.churchmaps.net/Files/26-07 roster.pdf"
}
GET /v1/files/{id}

Returns a single, specific file record using its private file ID number.

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
keystringYESYour unique API access key.
cong_idintegerYESRequired security confirmation check for the congregation.
Sample Request
curl -X GET "https://api.churchmaps.net/v1/files/108?cong_id=42&key=demo_key_abc"
Sample JSON Response
{
    "file_id": "108",
    "file_name": "26-07 roster.pdf",
    "file_url": "https://www.churchmaps.net/Files/26-07 roster.pdf"
}