In a first for the diocese, and the final step in her vocation, Janine Fair recently made her Life Vow for the Single Consecrated Life (SCL).
The special service was held on 6 September at All Saints with Holy Trinity Church in Loughborough, and was led by the Bishop of Loughborough, Rt Revd Saju Muthalaly, alongside Rector Revd Emily Sharman.
It’s just over three years since Janine, a member of All Saints, took her first (temporary) vow in the single consecrated life (SCL). On this occasion, Janine was finalising her commitment to the SCL by making a vow of celibacy for life.
The SCL is a recognised vocation within the Church of England, albeit a little known one. It’s a fresh expression of religious life within the Anglican church and is essentially a calling to remain single for God.
Unlike nuns and monks who usually live in specific religious communities under a common rule, those called to the SCL usually live in the community or world in general and develop their own pattern or discipline of life under the guidance of a spiritual director.
The SCL calling can be expressed in a wide variety of ways, depending on life stage, giftings, personality, and other commitments. Some people will have more of an active ministry, while others will be more contemplative.
Janine’s journey into the SCL started in 2018 with a very sudden and unexpected call on her life. Since that time her sense of calling has deepened and grown, as has the sense of it being an immense gift and privilege.
She has found it particularly helpful to be associated with a local convent and follow a daily pattern of Benedictine prayer. She is also part of the SCL network, a group of approximately 50 men and women in the UK and beyond who have made a vow of consecrated celibacy. Those in the network support each other in prayer, have meetings online, and share resources with each other.
You can read more about Janine’s journey and her first vow here.
Information on the SCL can be found at Single Consecrated Life.
If you would like to talk to Janine about this most wonderful and precious vocation, please get in touch via the diocese, at bishops.office@leicestercofe.org