Happy 150th Birthday Mothers' Union

posted by: Joan Vine | on: Saturday, 3 January 2026, 15:25

---

Dear Members and Friends.

I trust you have all had a joyful, but relaxed Christmas and are ready for a very special New Year of celebrations for 150 years of MU – I am!

You will see below all the things we know about that have been planned, but would love to hear about what you have lined up in your branches – do send invites before and photos after events, so we can join in with you.

I am so looking forward to visiting you for the Anniversary talks and reminiscing with you, worshipping together and giving thanks for MU in St Paul’s Cathedral and Chelmsford Cathedral, hearing where MU has come from and is going to at The Anniversary Gathering, helping to finance that future through fundraising and hoping some of you will be able to join me at the various locations for my Midday Prayer Challenge starting off at Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge in Chingford. Maybe even meeting up at the Global Gathering in Durban.

Above all, remember that with God’s help, we are the ones lighting the way for generations to come, so I urge you invite as many people as possible to Join Us and Join In.

With love and blessings

Maxine x

Trustees’ anniversary visits

Members of our Trustees board will be starting their visits to branches this month to kick off the 150^th anniversary year. In January Trustees will be visiting:

• 7^th January – Grays (need time and location)
• 8^th January – Great Burstead, from 2pm - 11 Church Street CM112TR
• 14^th January – Harlow Common 1pm, Epping 7:30pm on Zoom
• 23^rd January – Barkingside 7:30pm on Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85196756863?pwd=v8ZoQABS0zeoQFstHiH0rTabTimUfs.1

Meeting ID: 851 9675 6863 Passcode: 194149

• 28^th January – Stanford-le-hope UBCF - 2pm Church Hall on Green SS170EN

Any member is more than welcome to attend any of these events and do bring a friend along. Please contact Secretary Kathryn for further information.

150^th Events

Remaining tickets for the anniversary service at St Pauls in June are due to be released from 16^th February 2026. Visit www.mothersunion.org/150 to book your ticket and find out more about other national events taking place during our 150^th anniversary year.

Remember to let us know any 150^th celebratory events that you have planned. We are hoping to send a Trustee to at least one event per branch during 2026 in addition to our Trustee visits. We will also promote local branch events through our newsletter and diocesan WhatsApp groups.

150^th Fundraising challenge

Chelmsford diocese is signed up to the 150^th fundraising challenge and our target is to turn our £150 seed funding into at least £1500 by the end of the year.

Throughout the year, diocesan President Maxine will be doing a sponsored 150^th Midday Prayer Challenge, visiting a different historic location in the diocese. Maxine’s first stop will be Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge on 9^th January. Come and join her if you are in the area. You can sponsor Maxine on the sponsor form coming at Trustee visits or at any of our 150^th events throughout the year. There will be an MU fundraising page soon.

On 22^nd August we will also be holding an afternoon tea fundraiser at the Chapter House in support of the 150^th fund. There will be 3 bookable slots (10.30-12, 12.30-2 and 2.30-4). Tickets are being charged at £10 per adult and £5 per child and numbers for each session are limited. Members are encouraged to bring friends and/or family members along in support of our Join

Us Join In theme. Tickets can be booked through Secretary Kathryn (secretary@muchelmsford.org.uk) or at any of our Trustee 150^th branch visits.

Big Give Christmas Challenge

Thanks to members generosity, the central charity Christmas Appeal reached its Big Give target, unlocking match funding to support savings and credit work in Uganda. Thank you to all those who have donated so far. If you haven’t

had a chance to donate yet you can still do so by visiting www.mothersunion.org/appeal/Christmas25.

News from Mary Sumner House

For regular updates on central MU work, sign up to the central e-newsletter on this link:

https://mothersuniononline.org/p/1I8Y-G0K/sign-up-to-the-mothers-union-mailing-list

Dates for the dairy

• 150^th Midday Prayer Challenge: Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, 9^th January
• 150^th Anniversary Talks on Zoom: Weds 14^th Jan & Fri 23^rd Jan, both at 7.30pm
• 150^th Anniversary Prayer Challenge: Friday 6^th Location TBC

150^th anniversary visits in February:

• St Chad’s – 4^th February
• Rainham - 4^th Feb afternoon at Phoenix Pub, Rainham
• Maldon – 3^rd February at 2pm
• Clacton on Sea – 20^th February
• Leigh-on-sea, St Margarets - 24^th February 12pm

O God of love and wonder, guide us as we grow,

Shifting our gaze towards the future, while acknowledging the inspiration of the past-

Cherishing our roots, while discovering our wings.

May we, as a worldwide movement, take flight into new realms of possibility recognising potential in all its forms and nurturing a creative spirit.

As we join together to make a difference, help us to envision new ways of being light in our world carrying faith and hope with us as we journey into all that you have made us to be. Amen

---

You can comment on this article here (All fields required)

Your name

Your email (in case we need to contact you, it will not be displayed)

Comment (please note this needs to be approved by an administrator)

---

• Home

• About Us

• History

• Events

• Overseas Links

• Membership

• Blog

• Contact Centres

• English for Women

If you want to know your nearest branch, or more about becoming a member of Mothers’ Union, contact:
Chelmsford Diocesan Mothers’ Union Secretary, Kathryn | email | :)