What is Mother’s Union?
We are a Christian organisation that has been supporting families worldwide for nearly 150 years. Started by our founder Mary Sumner in 1876 in her local parish, we have grown into an international charity with over 4 million members in 83 countries.
As a Christian membership charity, we demonstrate our faith in action. This happens as we work towards ending poverty, ending inequality ending injustice. Our members work at grassroots level around the world. They bring hope and practical support to millions of people every year through parenting, literacy and community development programmes.
What does the central charity do?
As a registered charity, we campaign at local, national and international levels to bring about real change for gender equality and for the rights of women and girls.
We also support our members within the UK and across the world with a vast collection of practical and spiritual resources. In addition, we produce regular publications like Connected and the Prayer Diary to keep members in Britain and Ireland informed and up-to-date with what’s happening around the corner and around the world.
St Gabriel’s Mothers’ Union
The St Gabriel’s branch of the Mothers’ Union has been running for over 30 years. There are monthly meetings that range from activities, to guest speakers, to fundraising events and more!
Usually we meet monthly on Thursday afternoons at 2pm in the Parish Centre. Occasionally, we go elsewhere. Our programme for the start of 2025 includes a New Year’s Lunch on Thursday 9th January at 12 noon for 12.30 at the Northumberland Hussars, our A G M on 13th February in the Parish Centre and a craft afternoon with Helen Cooper on 13th March. We would be delighted to see anyone interested in joining the Mothers’ Union at any of our meetings. If you decided to join, you would become part of a 4 million strong community in 84 countries, united in empowering women, strengthening communities, helping the most disadvantaged in society and contributing to a wave of prayer around the world. The Mothers’ Union year officially starts on 1st January.
Spring 2025 news!
At our March meeting, we enrolled two more new members and we are so pleased they have chosen to join us.
The March meeting continued with Helen Cooper, Alnmouth and Lesbury Branch Leader, talking and inspiring us before helping us all to complete a piece of cross stitch, most of us choosing to make a palm-sized cross.
The Mothers’ Union recently had some exciting news. Our new Patron is to be Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. She was appointed in February, succeeding Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who held the role until her passing in 2022.
In April, we held our Lent lunch and members enjoyed a choice of three homemade soups served with bread, cheeses and biscuits, tea and coffee. Canon Jonathan joined us and preceded our lunch by saying grace. Wyn Findlay, one of our longest-standing members, gave an inspirational reflection after lunch, linking the work of Mothers’ Union with her Headship in Scotswood and highlighting the importance of looking after families while always giving them hope. Although attendance was disappointingly low, those present had a lovely time and generously donated £80 to Mothers’ Union projects.
St Gabriel’s Mothers’ Union update – December 2024
St Gabriel’s has been invited to host the Triennial Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the Newcastle Diocese Mothers’ Union. This is a considerable honour and privilege. It will take place in St Gabriel’s Church on Wednesday 11th December at 2.00pm. Everyone is invited – obviously all the St Gabriel’s Mothers’ Union members and those considering joining the Mothers’ Union, but also the whole congregation – we would appreciate your support. The service will be led by Rev Anne Marr, Newcastle Diocese Mothers’ Union Chaplain. It will consist of hymns, prayers, a psalm, readings and thank you presentations to those who have served the Newcastle Diocese Mothers’ Union in leadership roles over the last three years. The Mothers’ Union leadership team has kindly decided that the retiring collection will be shared between the work of the Mothers’ Union and St Gabriel’s Church. The service will be followed by afternoon tea in the vestry, provided by St Gabriel’s. Please try to come.
In September, we were delighted that our own Robin Long, who is also a member of the Heaton History Society, gave an illustrated talk about the early history of St Gabriel’s, to mark our 125th birthday. It was fascinating to hear about how St Gabriel’s began, dating from 1890 when a foundation stone was laid in Rothbury Terrace for a building of corrugated iron lined with wood, St Gabriel’s Iron Mission Chapel. Lord Armstrong then gifted us our present site, its foundation stone being laid in 1898 by Mrs Watson-Armstrong – but no one knows where it is! The Consecration of St Gabriel’s by Bishop Jacob took place on Friday 29th September 1899. Robin led us through the stages of building, design and details of the most generous benefactors who ensured our church was built, especially Lord Armstrong, Miss Emily Matilda Eason, Colin MacEacharn, Frederick Beaven and his wife, and Rev Charles F Medd. The stories were interesting and intriguing. Many thanks, Robin, for enlightening us and helping us to appreciate how fortunate we are to have this beautiful building.
At our October meeting, we completed membership forms, worked out how we would try to fill bags with toiletries and essential items for users of The Peoples’ Kitchen, to be distributed at Christmas, and wrote greetings for our Church Christmas Card. There followed a short quiz then refreshments.
Dorothy Archer held a coffee morning, bake sale and raffle on 19th October, continued at Parish Breakfast the following morning. £180 was raised for Mothers’ Union work. Grateful thanks to all who supported this event, and thanks especially to Dorothy for planning and hosting it.
In November, we brought our donations, sorted them and filled six bags, each with a specific list of necessary things and a couple of treats, thanks to the generous gifts from our members.
