Mothers Union

About the MU

How did the Mothers’ Union start?

The Mothers’ Union was started in England in 1876 by Mary Sumner. It now has more than one million members in 70 countries.

We are the largest voluntary worldwide 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 our members committed to supporting the family.

What does the Mothers’ Union do today?

With more than a million members, the Mothers’ Union is the largest Christian women’s organisation in the world with a distinctive tradition of personal links and relationships worldwide. United by a common commitment to Christian family life, and by the custom of the cycle of midday prayers we are active in our own local communities, in all sorts of ways, fitting our activities to those local priorities and needs.

The Mothers’ Union has been doing work in:

84 prisons
2 remand centres
8 young offenders institutes
48 hospitals
23 Mothers’ Union involvement in child contact centres

Projects outside the UK are supported by the Overseas Fund in various ways:
Helping provide training for members and workers in developing leadership and advocacy skills in their towns and villages.
Funding seminars and conferences on issues affecting our members’ everyday lives, such as widowhood, their civil and legal rights and family life.
Grants for vehicles such as Land Rovers, motorcycles and boats.
Encouragement of self-help initiatives such as small livestock holdings, soap making and other craft co-operatives.

In addition to the Overseas Fund, the Relief Fund is used specifically for emergencies and disasters, such as war, famine and flood. Because we often have workers in the affected areas, food can be purchased locally and quickly reach those who are suffering.

The Structure

The trustee body is responsible for the strategic planning of the Mothers’ Union and consists of 22 members, elected by the worldwide council which consists of:

Diocesan presidents of the 65 British dioceses and the
257 dioceses overseas.
26 representative members
21 provincial presidents worldwide
Up to four co-opted members
Four unit co-ordinators and
The worldwide president.

Purpose, aim and objectives

The purpose of the Mothers’ Union is to be specially 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 worldwide 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.

Find the official Mothers Unions web site here.