Father's Day should be family occasion, says Church

Senior clergy have urged families to spend Father's Day together this weekend, with a survey suggesting fewer than a third will manage to do so.

The poll suggests families are nearly twice as likely to mark the occasion with a card than actually meet up.

Of the 2,018 UK adults polled on behalf of the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 32% said they would be spending time with their father.

The Bishop of Worcester said important family time was often squeezed out.

The Right Reverend Dr John Inge said: "Not everyone, admittedly, is able to set time aside to be with dad on Father's Day, but I would encourage you to do so if you can.

"Many churches are running services or events to give families a chance to come together to thank God for dads and the crucial and demanding role they play."

The survey, conducted in April, found 63% of those questioned planned to mark Father's Day by sending a card and 52% by giving a present, but just 24% planned to go out somewhere together.