Mothers’ Union marks 150 years of faith in action at anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral

Mothers’ Union marked 150 years of faith, service and transformation with a landmark anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday evening (10 June), bringing together members, senior church leaders, partners from across the Anglican Communion and supporters from across the charity sector. 

The service was one of the largest Eucharists ever held at St Paul’s Cathedral, with the Cathedral filled as over 1500 members gathered to give thanks for a movement that has grown from a small parish initiative in Hampshire into a global Christian organisation of four million members in more than 80 countries. 

The service opened with a procession of Mothers’ Union provincial banners from across the UK and Ireland, alongside the Mothers’ Union Mary Sumner House banner, a powerful visual expression of our heritage and a Movement united in prayer and action. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Patron of Mothers’ Union, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, preached at the service, reflecting on both the legacy of Mary Sumner and the continued relevance of Mothers’ Union today. 

Ahead of her address, Archbishop Sarah said: 

‘In 1876, Mary Sumner, the wife of an Anglican vicar in Hampshire, put her faith into action, believing that women from all backgrounds could support one another in strengthening their communities. 

150 years on, and driven by the unwavering conviction that faith and compassion can transform lives, the Mothers’ Union now has millions of members across the globe. From programmes designed to tackle modern slavery, to work in prisons connecting prisoners with their relatives, and schemes providing trips and holidays to families in need, the Mothers’ Union is a real lifeline. 

I am thrilled to join members for this extraordinary milestone at St Paul’s Cathedral, celebrating the journey so far and the road that lies ahead, as women from all over the world work towards ending poverty, violence and social injustice in their communities.’ 

Archbishop Sarah also offered a personal reflection on the significance of the service, describing it as a moment of deep gratitude for “a movement rooted in prayer and sustained by the everyday faithfulness of its members,” and highlighting the importance of accompaniment, community and hope in the life of the Church today. 

Founded by Mary Sumner in Old Alresford, Hampshire, Mothers’ Union began as a small group supporting mothers in Christian faith and family life. Today, it spans six continents, with members working in local communities and through national and international programmes to strengthen families, advocate for justice and bring hope to those facing hardship and disadvantage. 

Kathleen Snow, Worldwide President of Mothers’ Union, paid tribute to the global movement and its members past and present. 

‘Mothers’ Union has always been about connection; the belief that it takes a village to support communities, and that we are that village, a global one. From Mary Sumner’s vision of women coming together across backgrounds and experience, we have grown into a worldwide movement of faith, prayer and action. 

As we mark 150 years, we give thanks for that legacy, but also for the impact of Mothers’ Union today, standing alongside families, and campaigning on serious issues including gender-based violence, poverty and injustice. Wherever we are in the world, we continue to bring hope, advocate for change, and build communities rooted in dignity, justice and love.’ 

Over the past 150 years, MU has continually adapted to meet changing social needs while remaining rooted in its Christian faith. Today, our members support communities through local outreach, parenting initiatives, literacy programmes, campaigns to tackle gender-based violence, advocacy and prayer. 

This includes international programmes such as literacy and women’s empowerment work, and efforts to prevent gender-based violence in countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. In the UK, Mothers’ Union delivers initiatives such as Away From It All holidays for families needing respite and the Rise Up campaign to help prevent domestic abuse. 

The anniversary service gave thanks for the vision of Mary Sumner and the countless members whose faith and service have sustained the movement over 150 years. It also marked the beginning of the next chapter in Mothers’ Union’s story as it continues to grow its impact across the Anglican Communion and beyond. 

 

Photo credits to St Paul’s Cathedral / Graham Lacdao