Mothers’ Union

The Bath Abbey Mothers’ Union (MU) is part of a worldwide Anglican-led organisation with more than 4 million members in over 80 countries. We are a community of like-minded people inspired by Christ to bring a humanitarian response to the needs of families around us and overseas, to be specially concerned with all that strengthens and preserves marriage and Christian family life. We are not all mothers, or even all women!

Established in 1943, the Bath Abbey branch continues to thrive with a busy programme of activities founded on a commitment to prayer, both individual and corporate. We take part in a mixture of prayers, talks, discussions and refreshments, and like all branches in the UK, regularly raise funds to support MU projects at home and overseas.

Some of our work includes:

• We (and our friends) knit woollies for children in need in Africa and Eastern Europe.
• As part of the Bath Deanery group, we published and gave away free cookbooks for students at the Freshers Fairs at Bath Spa University and the University of Bath. The simple recipes and helpful hints are to help students to produce cheap but nourishing meals.
• During the Bath Christmas Market, the Deanery members ran a simple but successful café which raised over £1,200 for MU funds.
• We maintain a display of free MU leaflets in the Abbey about various projects and on topics such as 'Children in Church', 'Children and bereavement' and 'Godly Play'.
• We support Celebrate with Us, an easy way to give ethical gifts to family and friends while empowering people to create a better life for themselves and their families
• We have forged a strong link with the MU branch at the Cathedral of St Michael & All Angels, Kitwe, in Northern Zambia. Last year, some members of Bath Abbey's congregation including a MU representative visited Zambia and we were delighted when our visit was reciprocated a few months later. A small group from St M & AA Cathedral came to visit us here in Bath, one of whom was MU member, Felistus Mazala. We were so pleased to welcome Felistus to one of our meetings and thoroughly enjoyed discussing the similarities and differences between our lives as Christians here in Bath and in Kitwe.
• As individuals, our members bring a wide variety of practical help and support to the Church, the community and each other.