Faith Dingle

Faith Dingle is the ex-wife of Shadrach Dingle and the mother of Cain and Chas.

1974-2004: Faith turns her back on her family
In the early 1970s, Faith had an fling with Zak Dingle, her partner Shadrach's brother. On 30th November 1974, Faith gave birth to Zak's son whom she named Cain, although both Zak and Shadrach believed Cain was Shadrach's biological son. She and Shadrach eventually got married a year later in 1975. In February 1978, Faith gave birth to a daughter, Chas. After Faith walked out on the family, Chas took a lot of responsibility for her father and brother as well as herself. She ensured Cain managed to get to school often enough not to cause trouble for the family, and cleaned up after Shadrach after his many benders.

On Cain's twenty-sixth birthday, Faith told shocked Zak that he was Cain's father. Four years later she returned to help celebrate the Dingles ten years in Emmerdale. She tried to build bridges with Cain's daughter Debbie Dingle, but Cain would not allow it.

2017-: Return and helping Sarah
In the intervening years, Faith kept an eye on her family from a far. Whilst drunk in January 2017, Faith donated £20,000 to a fundraising page set up (by Diane Sugden) to fund proton beam therapy for Debbie's eleven year old daughter Sarah. In early February, skint and homeless Faith turned up in Emmerdale, but ended up getting locked in a barn at Wishing Well Cottage. Sarah found Faith and secretly began bringing her food and medicine unaware of their connection. Sarah stole a donation tin and gave the contents to Faith. Faith used the money to book in the B&amp;B but she collapsed in her room and an ambulance was called. Cain, Chas and the rest of the Dingles were shocked to see Faith. They were even more surprised when Faith revealed she donated the £20,000. The Dingles were grateful for the donation and Cain gave her money to stay another night in the B&B, which did not go down well with Chas.