Welcome to Mothers' Union.

Mothers' Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide.

Mothers' Union in our parish

Mothers' Union in Christ Church with St Mary’s is 100 years old.  We had a celebration recently with cake. Everyone, is welcome at our meetings – just turn up or contact the Branch Leader.  You will see that we have some men in our branch.

We have two groups: our afternoon group meets regularly most months for fellowship, tea and an interesting speaker – see the programme for details. Our evening group meets less frequently as we are all busy doing God’s work in other ways.  Both groups get together for an annual supper in the Bishop of Swindon’s house (about one year in five the weather allows us in the garden!)! 

Our members have started two parent and toddlergroups recently and we hope to interest these parents in Mothers' Union.

Mothers' Union in Bristol Diocese

The Mothers’ Union in the Bristol Diocese runs a number of very good projects.  We get together twice a year to discuss these and other MU matters.

Each Branch helps to provide tea and coffee for the Friends for Parents room at the Bristol Children’s Hospital; several MU members volunteer as Friends.  We also support the Hartcliffe and Withywood teenage parents project in Bristol.  Until recently we supported the Green Hut drop-in centre in Swindon, which was started in the green hut in Christ Church vicarage garden!  But it closed in January for a variety of reasons.  Now we support the Developing Health and Independence initiative for recovering drug users based in Maxwell Street  in Swindon; one of our Christ Church members teaches cooking there.  We also support the Away From It All holidays for families who would not otherwise have a holiday, and three families from Christ Church have been to the caravan in Burnham on Sea in recent years; two of the teenage lads subsequently read the lesson at our next Harvest Service.

In the Swindon Deanery branches are at Lydiard, Purton, Highworth and Blunsdon and St Philip’s Upper Stratton as well as at Christ Church with St Mary’s.  Unfortunately three more central branches have closed recently – St Augustine’s, Stratton St Margaret and New Town.

Mothers' Union internationally

In 83 countries, our members share one heartfelt vision - to bring about a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. This is not a vague hope, but a goal we actively pursue through prayer, programmes, policy work and community relationships. By supporting marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity, we tackle the most urgent needs challenging relationships and communities.

Our members are not all mothers, or even all women. Single, married, parents, grandparents, or young adults just beginning to express their social conscience. For all 4 million members what Mothers' Union provides is a network through which they can serve Christ in their own community - through prayer, financial support and actively working at the grassroots level in programmes that meet local needs. We lobby local and national governments on issues affecting family life and campaign to challenge legislation that neglects the vulnerable and marginalised. We are also represented at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Mothers' Union also employs paid workers around the world. These are women drawn from local dioceses, providing vital leadership and support and running training seminars for the local community. Mothers' Union is also involved in campaigning and lobbying on a number of worldwide family issues. Read about all our campaigns and policy work on our website  www.themothersunion.org

Membership is open to anyone, male or female, single or married, providing you have been baptised as a Christian and support our aims and objectives.

Everyone has different demands on their time, so Mothers’ Union offers three types of membership. Central Membership allows members to support MU and be kept up-to-date on the latest work and campaigns.  Diocesan Membership also allows members to be involved in the work of their diocese.  Branch membership is described above.

Caroline Pitt

Branch Leader, Christ Church with St Mary’s Mothers’ Union

July 2012

The Story of the Rainbow

Once upon a time, all the colours in the world started to quarrel, each claiming that they were the best.

Green said: ‘Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves.’

Blue interrupted: ‘ You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. Water is the basis of life.’

Yellow chuckled: ‘You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow.’

Orange started to blow his own trumpet: ‘I am the colour of health and strength. I serve the inner needs of human life.’

Red could stand it no longer. He shouted out: ‘I’m the ruler of you all, blood, life’s blood. I am the colour of passion and danger.’

Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: ‘I am the colour of royalty and power.’

Indigo spoke much more quietly than all the others, but just as determinedly: ‘Think of me. I am the colour of silence and peace.’

And so all the colours went on boasting, each convinced they were the best until suddenly there was thunder and lightning and torrential rain. The colours all crouched down, close together in fear.

Then rain spoke: ’You foolish colours; Do you not know that God loves you all and made each of you for a special purpose, unique and different. Come now with me and we will stretch you across the sky in a great bow of colour, so that you remember to appreciate each other.

This is a reminder of God’s promise, that he is with you, and a sign of hope for tomorrow.’

                                                                                    (adapted from an Indian legend)

MU BRANCH LEADER’S REPORT 2010

Another busy year for Christ Church with St Mary’s Mothers’ Union.  We have held a variety of meetings, including presentations about the Food Bank, Gideons, Local Involvement Network and bananas, as well as musical and games afternoons.  The January afternoon meeting was cancelled by snow.  Our Deanery Leader ran a quiz – how much do you know about MU?  Worship has included meditations in Holy Week and Advent, Corporate Communion in June, and a Carol Service in December. 

We participated in the MU wave of prayer in February on the basis of relationships not rules. Members attended the Candlemas service in St Philip’s in January, the garden party at Stratton St Margaret in August, and the Women’s World day of prayer in March at the Pilgrim Centre.  A collection raised enough to buy 6 Bibles for school children at King William Street Church of England school and these were dedicated and given out at a service in March.

Average attendance at afternoon meetings has been 13, with more for the presentation on teaching in Vanuatu.  We continue to be grateful for the support of our accompanist in the afternoons. We were grateful to the Bishop of Swindon, and his wife for the opportunity to hold a social event in their house in July for 22 members of both groups with a meal. We moved the date of our carol service in December in order to attend the Immanuel Ladies Fellowship carol service and tea. 

We were very sad at the deaths of two longstanding and stalwart members,  but  enrolled three new members in October. All indoor members receive biscuits at Christmas.

Branch members have supported the Charity Market at Christ Church in November.  We have made a contribution to Christ Church PCC for the use of the buildings and coffee etc.  We contributed presents to the Green Hut Christmas party, and fairly traded tea and coffee for “Friends for Parents”, which befriends parents visiting children in Bristol Children’s Hospital.  We made a contribution of £143.50 to the costs of sending a family on an AFIA Away from it All holiday at Burnham on Sea, including £50 contributed by the deanery. 

In the Lady Chapel flowers have been put on the altar every week except Lent, and in the entrance at Christmas and Easter.  We have a new banner from the Leprosy Mission, made by a batik group in Tamil Nadu.

We used a kind legacy of £100 for a trip by 19 members and friends to the walled garden at Lydiard in June.  We organised our own transport and food and Lydiard MU kindly made tea in the stable block.

We hosted the Deanery Festival on Wednesday evening, 6 October.  The theme of the service was “God’s love for us and our love for each other” based on the MU theme of the year “Relationships not rules”.  The Revd Simon Stevenette presided at Holy Communion and the Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield preached a sermon in which he said lots of good things about the MU, obviously having read “Families First” recently.  The Diocesan President, Mary Head, read the lesson and banners were paraded.  About 100 people attended including a group from Lechlade MU. Refreshments were served and it was an enjoyable evening.

We were asked for help by “Developing Health and Independence”, a charity helping drug users.  Since October "Cook with K" has been offering 2 hours a week of "basic home-style cooking" tuition, to a maximum of 3 DHI Swindon clients in their tiny kitchen.  MU members have contributed money for ingredients, assorted cooking equipment and take away containers and the project is so successful DHI want to extend it.

As Deanery secretary and contact I have attended all of the quarterly Deanery meetings, and 2 half-yearly Diocesan meetings. The AGM now has a cake stall and bring and buy, but not a stall for MU goods.  I have been a welcomer in Bristol Cathedral in May and August. 

We have exchanged information and supporting messages with our link branches in Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia and in Poitou-Charentes.  In July visitors from Wahroonga attended the MU deanery meeting and had supper with members.

We currently have 32 members in two groups, which support each other with meetings most months. We will support our 7 Indoor members and the other work of the MU by prayer and funding. 

I am very grateful for the continuing support and encouragement of the Reverend Simon Stevenette, of my family, and of the members of the afternoon and evening groups.

Caroline Pitt, Branch Leader

February 2011

Mothers Union Deanery Festival

The Deanery Festival was held at Christ Church on Wednesday evening, 6th October. The theme of the service was “God’s love for us and our love for each other”  based on the MU theme of the year “Relationships not rules”.  

The Revd Simon Stevenette presided and the Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield preached a sermon in which he said lots of good things about the MU, obviously having read “Families First” recently.  The Diocesan President, Mary Head, read the lesson and also gave a presentation to Anne Rees, until recently branch leader at Highworth and Deanery Secretary, who is moving with her husband to a new parish. Banners were paraded and three new members were enrolled.  About 100 people attended including a group from Lechlade MU.  Refreshments were provided afterwards by the Christ Church with St Mary’s branch.  An enjoyable time was had by all.

February meeting

We had an interesting talk by Richard Belsham, manager of the Swindon Food Bank find more details about Swindon Food Bank