Mother’s Union

Our local Branch of 22 members is part of Hereford Diocese MU, of 1000 members, which is linked through “The Wave of Prayer” with MU members in Damaturu in Nigeria, Lui in Sudan, Makamba in Burundi, Mara in Tanzania and the Women’s’ Christian Fellowship of North India. There is also a link with St Mark’s Theological College in Dar es Salaam for which we make stoles for the ordinands.

Members in Hereford Diocese support the overseas work of the Mothers’ Union with prayer and providing financial support to the Overseas Fund and the Relief Fund. In particular we support the Literacy & Development programmes enabling many in the third world to read, write and become numerate. It is said that if you educate a woman you educate a family. The MU also runs Parenting Courses in this country and overseas. The Away from it All Holiday Scheme provides much-needed holidays for those who would not otherwise be able to have a holiday. The Diocesan branches meet 3 or 4 times a year to hear about MU activities in the Diocese and all over the world and for talks by national leaders of the MU. There are Diocesan, Archdeaconry and Deanery Festivals, church services at which we parade our branch banners.

In Church Stretton our members take part in many local projects and activities. For example they visit the sick, the housebound and those in hospital. They knit for needy children and make cot covers for the Special Care Baby Units in the local hospitals. They help in the local schools. The branch provides lunch for young couples at their pre-marriage training day and gives them a prayer card and a candle on their wedding day. We help at the Parents and Toddler Club and we provide toiletry articles and dry and tinned food for the Women’s Refuge.

Our regular meetings are a general meeting on the 1st Tuesday of the month, usually in The Owen Room, when we have a talk and/or discussions; a Prayer Meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, usually at 45 Church Street, when we pray for our members here and around the world and a Communion service in the Chancel on the last Thursday of the month.

Every year we meet with our Deanery members for a Quiet Afternoon, a Social and a Festival Service.

The support and fellowship the members provide for each other is important too. Prayer underpins all the work of the Mothers’ Union. The rhythm of daily prayer and thanksgiving unites every member sharing compassion, commitment and dependence on God’s grace.

Our Aims & Objectives

To promote and support married life

To uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and to 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