{"id":10114,"date":"2025-01-07T15:41:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T15:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/?page_id=10114"},"modified":"2025-01-27T16:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T16:43:19","slug":"deanery-briefing-singleness-in-the-uk-church","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/?page_id=10114","title":{"rendered":"Deanery Briefing: Singleness in the UK Church"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-10114\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-10114-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-10114-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">40% of UK adults are single \u2026. And it is increasing in every age group \u2026. <\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-10114-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-10114\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1.png\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/40-Population-Single_1.1.1-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" title=\"40% Population Single_1.1.1\" alt=\"40% of Adults are single\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-10114-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-10114-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_siteorigin-panels-embedded-video panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" >\t\t<div class=\"siteorigin-fitvids\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Deanery Briefing: Singleness and the UK Church\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hVrUH4cC1WE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-10114-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-10114-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h6><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Scroll down for the presentation and more resources<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #800080;\">40% of UK adults are single - that\u2019s those who have never married, along with the divorced, separated and widowed and who are not cohabiting - but research shows they don\u2019t always feel welcome in church.<\/span><\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Are singles under-represented in your church?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Does your church embrace singles?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At a time where singleness is increasing in every age group, single people are disproportionately missing from our churches. Research from 3,000 single Christians showed that many feel invisible and isolated in church.<\/p>\n<p>In this Deanery Briefing the Single Friendly Church Network will share how welcoming in single people can grow and enrich your whole church community.<\/p>\n<p>The Single Friendly Church Network mission is to inspire a movement that welcomes and values single people in all our churches. We want to help churches become communities where everyone can flourish. We\u2019ll show you how a few simple changes in 5 areas of church life can make a huge difference to single people\u2019s sense of value and belonging.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">- Why should churches care about becoming Single Friendly?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">- What\u2019s stopping single people from feeling fully part of their churches?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">- What practical things can churches do to make them feel welcome and valued?<\/p>\n<p>During the Briefing the Single Friendly Church team will explore and equip you with practical ways for churches in your Deanery to welcome in and value the single people in your communities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlefriendlychurch.com\/\">More on the Single Friendly Church Network<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-10114-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-10114-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Need more help or resources:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Download the Presentation: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Single-Friendly-Church-National-Deaneries-Network.pptx\">https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Single-Friendly-Church-National-Deaneries-Network.pptx<\/a><\/p>\n<h5>Becoming A Single Friendly Church:<\/h5>\n<p>Register to do the free 5 Steps Guided Audit in your church, a practical resource for becoming a Single Friendly Church: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlefriendlychurch.com\/register-your-church-form\">https:\/\/www.singlefriendlychurch.com\/register-your-church-form<\/a><\/p>\n<h5>Mother\u2019s Day Resource Zoom<\/h5>\n<p>Mother's Day can be a difficult day for many single people, but when churches handle it\u00a0sensitively it can become a comforting and uplifting experience. Single Friendly Church Network are running a <strong>Mother\u2019s Day zoom on Tues 4th Feb at 11am.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is an informal discussion on how to make Mother's Day services sensitive and inclusive, with the opportunity to share ideas and learn from other churches: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tickettailor.com\/events\/singlefriendlychurch\/1466129\">https:\/\/www.tickettailor.com\/events\/singlefriendlychurch\/1466129<\/a><\/p>\n<h5>Got more questions? Get in touch .....<\/h5>\n<p>Email Liz for more information, or if you would like a personalised resources for your own deanery synod, including leaflets, powerpoint or a presentation via zoom - \u00a0<a href=\"mailto:liz@singlefriendlychurch.com\">liz@singlefriendlychurch.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-10114-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-10114-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-4-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Beth Collingridge<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Beth Collingridge is the Communications Director of Single Friendly Church Network, a charity that encourages churches to welcome and value single people at every stage of life. Beth has worked for SFCN for 7 years and is passionate about seeing single people thrive in their faith and church communities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/?p=10127\">More on Beth Collingridge<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-10114-4-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-4-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-10114\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04.png\" width=\"3456\" height=\"4066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04.png 3456w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04-255x300.png 255w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04-870x1024.png 870w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04-768x904.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04-1306x1536.png 1306w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04-1741x2048.png 1741w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Beth-Collingridge-04-600x706.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\" title=\"Beth Collingridge 04\" alt=\"Beth Collingridge\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-10114-5\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-10114-5-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-5-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Liz Dunbar<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Liz Dunbar is the Church Engagement Officer for Single Friendly Church Network. She enjoys meeting with churches around the UK and encouraging them on their journey to becoming Single Friendly. Liz is a gifted networker and is passionate about working ecumenically in the diverse UK Church. She is also a pioneer minister in the Church of England and enjoys getting involved in community life in Exeter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-10114-5-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-10114-5-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-10114\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01.png\" width=\"3072\" height=\"4096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01.png 3072w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01-768x1024.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01-1152x1536.png 1152w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01-1536x2048.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Liz-Dunbar-01-600x800.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3072px) 100vw, 3072px\" title=\"Liz Dunbar 01\" alt=\"Liz Dunbar\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>40% of UK adults are single \u2026. And it is increasing in every age group \u2026. Scroll down for the presentation and more resources 40% of UK adults are single &#8211; that\u2019s those who have never married, along with the divorced, separated and widowed and who are not cohabiting &#8211; but research shows they don\u2019t [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10114","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9I8eL-2D8","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10114"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10159,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10114\/revisions\/10159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationaldeaneries.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}