Keeping your kids in the faith when your marriage has fallen part

In 2021 there were 113,505 divorces granted in England and Wales. ONS estimated that 42% of marriages end in divorce and 45% of those involve children under the age of 16. The figures for divorce rates in church remain similar to the rest of society.

The church’s view on divorce is very much split depending upon what denomination you talk to and the circumstances surrounding the divorce. God’s intent for marriage was for two people to become one physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When something comes along to break that bond, they can no longer be one and the bonds of marriage have been broken. Most of the church agrees that in cases of adultery, addiction, abuse and abandonment, divorce should be allowed.

I have been married and divorced twice. Both times I married a Christian man, and both marriages were very violent and abusive. I attended two different churches during the times of my marriage and divorce and was treated very differently. The first time the church could not understand why I left my husband despite knowing that I and my children were in constant physical, emotional and financial danger because of abuse. We moved to a church where we were embraced, and God slowly healed our wounds. I was five months pregnant with our third child when my first husband left, and the boys were almost four and 19 months old. They are now 19, 17 and 15 years old and all still attend church, and all have their own strong personal faith.