As Mothers’ Union celebrates 150 years of “faith in action” worldwide, Alison Tsang sees that enduring vision alive in Edmonton.
The Mothers’ Union members of St Aldhelms, Edmonton recently gathered for a hopeful day focused on wellbeing: one local celebration within a worldwide movement celebrating a remarkable milestone.
Beautifully hosted at their church by Mother Anna Stuttard, the St Aldhelm’s branch day explored wellbeing: as peace with God, ourselves, one another and creation.
Creativity and laughter filled the day, along with some fun activities: beadmaking, jigsaws and creative drawing.
We explored what wellbeing means to us, as we care for others, and examined the “five ways of wellbeing”: connect, take notice, get active, keep learning and give.
We shared each of us how we embody these ways of wellbeing, and shared stories of how this ripples through families, churches and our neighbourhoods. Of course, there was plentiful and delicious food, all shared together.
Towards the end of the day, we welcomed the local mayor, who thanked Mothers’ Union members for their service and even sang for us!
I felt privileged to hear the stories of remarkable women whose faithful service makes the ordinary extraordinary, and how people shared deeply about the things they had endured & experienced at difficult times in their life. Their commitment to their own wellbeing, and from that, serving and making their community better; seeking the ‘wellbeing of the city’ as Jeremiah put it, was plain to see. It was a day of connection and reminder of what the Mothers Union stands for.
With members whose lives span the globe, the St Aldhelms branch is a vivid expression of the worldwide Mothers’ Union family.
Creating spaces for people to feel seen
The conversation at St Aldhelms reminded us that wellbeing begins with being seen.
In churches and community spaces, people often arrive carrying pressures that are hidden: caring responsibilities, loneliness, bereavement, financial anxiety, ill health, family tensions, or the quiet exhaustion of holding everything together.
To create space where people can speak, pray, listen, laugh, reflect and encourage is already a form of healing. It is also deeply rooted in the Christian calling to love our neighbours not in theory, but in practical, embodied and compassionate ways.
This is why the work of Mothers’ Union matters so much: a locally based network of relationships of women committed to helping others feel seen and cared for, while gathering to tackle injustice that harms people’s wellbeing.
What I experienced at St Aldhelms was one local expression of a much wider movement of faith in action.
Local acts, worldwide reach
Founded by Mary Sumner in Old Alresford, Hampshire, in 1876, Mothers’ Union began with women crossing social divides to support one another, strengthen family life and serve their communities. Over 150 years, that vision has grown into a worldwide Christian movement of more than four million members in around 84 countries.
Across cultures and continents, members turn prayer into action: supporting families, visiting prisons and challenging poverty, injustice and domestic abuse.
In Britain and Ireland, that looks like the Mothers Union co-ordinating the Rise up campaign, raising awareness of domestic abuse.
At St Aldhelms, that same calling is expressed from their branch through support for a local refuge for women and children fleeing unsafe situations at home.
That is the worldwide significance of Mothers’ Union: each local act of service belongs to something larger – a fellowship of faith and compassion linking parishes and communities across generations and continents.
The Mother’s Union 150th anniversary theme “Join Us, Join In”, celebrates that shared legacy while looking ahead: an invitation to pray, volunteer, advocate and renew local branches for the next generation.
Mothers’ Union has lived out this calling for generations, often quietly and faithfully, through the everyday ministry of listening, visiting, praying, organising, campaigning and caring. In short: nurturing hope in families and communities.
Celebrating and looking forward
Our day together of learning, fun reflection and food in Edmonton was one small expression of a much bigger story.
There are Mothers Union branches across many churches in our diocese: beacons of hope and service, whose members are committed to tackling poverty, injustice and violence in their local parishes.
(If your church may be interested in setting up a Mother’s Union branch, they would delighted to welcome you. More details are below.)
In their 150th year, I stand with them, celebrating women putting faith into action across the world.
As Mothers’ Union celebrates this milestone, may it continue to flourish in it’s commitment: to compassion, to justice, to family and community life, and to the wellbeing of all God’s people.
For 150 years, Mothers Union has lived out it’s message: “transforming lives through faith, community and action.”
The Mothers Union movement makes a meaningful difference in the lives of millions worldwide through faith-based and community-led approach to tackling poverty, injustice and violence.
You can find out more about the work of Mother’s Union here
More information about Mothers Union branches in the Diocese of London can be found here
