August 2011 is the centenary of the formation of the St Peter's branch of the Mothers' Union .

What exactly is the Mothers' Union? No, we're not a trades union, nor do we ever go on strike! Nor are we just another tea and natter group who make refreshments for special services. It all began with Mary Sumner, a vicar's wife and the mother of three children, who saw the burdens and responsibilities that fall on parents, and the feelings of inadequacy that could easily swamp young mothers. In 1876, on the birth of her first grandchild, she took the first steps to found a society for the support of women in their role as mothers. From this developed the vast organisation that the Mothers' Union has become today. In 1896, the central organisation was formed, with Mary Sumner as president, and a central vision that marriage, parenting and prayer are key to the future of families. Branches were quickly established throughout the Anglican community, both here and around the world. Queen Victoria became patron and by 1900 membership had grown to around 170,000.

Changes in society throughout the twentieth century brought an increased awareness of acute poverty both in the developing world and at home. The Mothers' Union campaigned on many issues – raising the minimum age of marriage for women to sixteen, abortion, homosexuality, and the ordination of women. In the 1960s, ‘Away From It All Holidays’ were established, providing breaks for families who would otherwise never have the opportunity to see the sea. In 2010 the ‘Bye bye Childhood’ campaign was launched to address the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood and we welcome the government's promise to address these issues.

Now, in 2011, the range and depth of the Mothers' Union's work far exceeds Mary Sumner's original vision of a circle of prayer upholding family life, yet the mission is still to demonstrate the Christian faith in action through the nurture of the family in its many forms. Daily prayer still remains at the heart of all that we do.

There are now more than 4 million members in 81 countries across the globe. Not all members are mothers, or even all women. Membership is open to all: single, married, childless, divorced, parents, grandparents, and young adults just beginning to express their social conscience.

From its headquarters at Mary Sumner House in London, the MU continues to promote family life through parenting group work and marriage support, while at the same time offering practical help to families affected by poverty, homelessness, imprisonment, relationship breakdown and prison sentences.

In the third world we fight against sexual violence, extreme poverty and female circumcision. We run seminars for young people on drug abuse and the danger of cults. We support orphanages, children's homes, hospitals and prisons. We organise workshops on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and TB. We campaign for safe drinking water in order to prevent the spread of cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid. We support street children and provide vocational training for women so that they can support their families.

Around the world, the Mothers' Union provides a network through which people 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.

Here at St Peter's, we have around 40 members, which includes the MU2, set up to encourage younger women to join us and for those who can't attend afternoon meetings because of work or childcare. We visit the sick, offer support to members who are housebound or with young families, raise money to send Mothers' Union workers all over the wider world, including places where members have to walk many miles to attend meetings and, last but by no means least, support St Peter's in any way we can!

for Wellesbourne in Bloom

Julie with big smile as usual

Mr O’Malley’s garden

Now we’ve got to wait until September to find out the result of all the hard work all these dedicated volunteers have put in to make Wellesbourne beautiful, and the cakes were very good indeed!