Single Friendly Church Week - messages of support — Single Friendly Church | Encouraging churches to welcome and value single people

We are thrilled that churches from across the denominations are joining the Single Friendly Week campaign! See below for the latest messages of support from church leaders - we’ll be adding to this page are more arrive:

Caroline Stead Vice President of Methodist Conference 2026-2027

“I was at the Methodist Conference in 2024 and heard the National Singleness Report and how important it is to welcome single people. So when I saw the Single Friendly Church stand was at conference in 2025, I thought, 'Let's get our church registered, because we are single friendly so we might as well shout about that fact!' If all churches shout about the importance of single friendliness, then people won't feel that they can't come because they're on their own. This is a really important campaign.”

Karen Gorham Acting Bishop of Salisbury, and Bishop of Sherborne in the Church of England

"Three years on from the Church of England's Love Matters report, which reminded us of the wonderful variety of different types of households, it is great to see Single Friendly Church Network going from strength to strength. I would encourage you to engage in their new, upcoming Single Friendly Church Week. I'm grateful for this work and the way it reminds us of our shared commitment to the flourishing of all.”

Major David Betteridge Director of Family Ministries at The Salvation Army

"At The Salvation Army, we promote a God-given understanding of family, recognising that everyone has value, belongs to the family of God and that we have a responsibility to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. This is why we really want to recommend Single Friendly Church Network to all Christians and all church communities as their work is so important."

Nick Hughes South East Area Lead in the Assemblies of God Church UK

“I encourage you to check out the Single Friendly Church Website as singleness is an area that all churches should be engaging with - plus the resource are all free!”

Sophie Jelley Bishop of Coventry in the Church of England

"I am encouraged to see that the Single Friendly Church Network has arranged a conference and a week for churches to focus on supporting those who live alone. Given that most of us will at some point live alone in our lives, it is so important that this area of awareness and support is strengthened within the mission and ministry of the local church.”