To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Mother’s Union, the group at Sandbach Heath held a coffee morning at St John’s Church
The group invited along the mayor of Sandbach Coun Sam Corcoran and the Mayor’s Cadet Panashe Chaduka, along with the Mother’s Union diocesan president Diane Waller and members of the Holmes Chapel branch (ITALICS writes Stewart Green).
The Sandbach Heath branch was set up around 25th January 1933 and is part of the Chester diocese.
One of the projects it supports is a caravan holiday at Presthaven Sands near Prestatyn, North Wales, for those who can’t afford one.
The group also provides equipment for schools abroad, to encourage children to get an education in the poorer areas of the world.
The Mothers Union itself was formed in 1876 by Mary Sumner as a Christian charity.
Mary was married to the rector of the parish in Old Alresford, near Winchester, and after her first grandchild was born, and remembering her own experience with her children, she could see that care and support was difficult for certain people in the community.
Janet Warburton, the branch leader in Sandbach, has been a member for 40 years. In the late 1980s, the branch had 25 members but now it is down to 12. At the moment, members attend meetings at the Holmes Chapel Branch to listen to speakers such the local PCSO.
In the 1960s the branch had speakers like Dr Chamberlain in May 1963 and Mrs Higginson of the Congleton Deanery Overseas in October 1963.
Today the Sandbach Heath branch holds regular coffee mornings and supports other branches in the area with their fundraising.
New member are always welcome; go along to the monthly meetings at Holmes Chapel or talk to a member at St John’s Sandbach Heath.
Membership is open to men and women, single and married, couples or individuals. Meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month at Holmes Chapel Community Centre at 2pm.
The aim of the union is to uphold Christ’s teachings on the nature of marriage, encourage parents to bring up children in the faith of the church, maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians, promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children, and help those whose family life has met with adversity.
In 2024, more than 2.7 million people worldwide were supported by the Mothers Union.
(Photos: Stewart Green).
