Other Social Groups - The Friends | Gardening Club | Bellringers | Little Angels

What is the Mothers' Union?

Mary Sumner started the Mothers’ Union in England in 1876. It now has more than one million members in 70 countries. It is the largest voluntary world-wide women’s organisation with 122,000 members in the UK alone. The Mothers’ Union plays an important role in the religious life and social policies of many countries, with members committed to supporting the family. The Mothers’ Union works in the UK in prisons, remand centres, young offenders institutes, hospitals and child contact centres and provides holidays for those in need. Projects outside the UK include literacy campaigns, health projects such as HIV and AIDS prevention, funding conferences on issues such as widowhood, civil and legal rights and family life, grants for vehicles such as Land Rovers and encouraging self-help initiatives such as small livestock holdings, soap-making and other craft co-operatives. The Relief Fund is used specifically for emergencies and disasters, such as war, famine and flood; the MU often has workers in the affected areas so food can be purchased locally and quickly reach those who are suffering; recently funds were sent to the Congo and Malawi. The MU campaigns against third world debt and child poverty.

The purpose of the Mothers’ Union is to be especially concerned with all that strengthens and preserves marriage and Christian family life. The aim of the society is the advancement of the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life. In order to carry out this aim, its objectives are:

To uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and promote its wider understanding.

To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church.

To maintain a world-wide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service.

To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children

To help those whose family life has met with adversity.

What happens in our Wanstead branch?

Our meetings are open to all; you don’t need a special invitation or even to be female or a mother, just a belief in the importance of family life. You are very welcome whether you wish to attend one meeting on a subject of interest to you or are considering becoming a member. There is no charge to attend and talks are followed by coffee. Every summer at the beginning of the school holidays we hold a family barbecue in the grounds of Christ Church. Our branch of the Mother's Union is over 100 years old.

All meetings are 8 pm, Thursday, in Christ Church Hall (unless otherwise stated):

For more information on meetings and our local branch, contact Barbara Hepworth (Branch leader) on 020 8530 6132  For more information on the Mothers' Union, visit the national site: http://www.themothersunion.org/ or for more local information on our diocese: http://www.chelmsfordmu.org.uk/