MOTHERS’
The Mothers' Union (often abbreviated MU) is a worldwide movement of Anglican women, founded by Mary Sumner in 1876, and calculates its membership to be about 3.6 million in 78 countries. The aim of the MU is to strengthen and preserve marriage and family life through Christianity. In order to carry out this aim, the MU's objectives are:
The Mothers' Union Prayer: Loving Lord, we thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world. Bless the work of the Mothers' Union as we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life. Empowered by your Spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world. In Jesus' name. Amen. ©The Mothers' Union.
The MU is a worldwide campaigning charity, particularly concerned with the plight of women; its projects include literacy and healthcare education and campaigning against violence and trafficking. It emphasises the importance of prayer and each year organises a Wave of Prayer. On a set day we all pray together at a specific time to 
give members a sense of unity in prayer as the wave moves from branch to branch and from diocese to diocese internationally. The Wave of Prayer this year coincided with Mothers' Day, when three new members (from left to right on photo - Brenda Martin, Pauline Clarke and Maureen Nolan) were enrolled into St Mark's MU. Badges were presented by Margaret Swallow, the Mottram Deanery Leader. Countries prayed for were;- Province of South Africa - Table Bay; False Bay; Saldanha Bay; Namibia. Mbaise (Nigeria); Kondoa (Tanzania); Ho (Ghana). Province of Melanesia. Glasgow and Galloway. Chester (York). 
Eight members of the Mothers' Union, a guest, and Maggie Halliday (Church Warden) went to York Minster on 19 July for the Reaffirmation Service led by the Archbishop of York of the York Provincial President and a celebration of ten years of the Literacy and Development and Parenting Programme.
Back Row: Maureen Nolan, Sandra Austin (Church Warden). Front Row: Brenda Thorpe, Barbara Smart, Brenda Martin, Iris Clarke, Shirley Roberts, Valerie Jackson, Pauline Clarke. Maggie Halliday is kneeling at the front.
St Mark’s MU was formed in the 1920s and now has 16 members, who meet at 7:30 pm in the Church Hall on the first Wednesday of each month, except for August, and membership is open to anyone both male and female. The meetings cover a variety of topics such as professional people showing their expertise, and speakers on subjects of interest. In June, we had a barbecue in the Vicarage garden where we were treated to a spot of Tai Chi and we supported the MU Cream Tea at
Our MU supports WISH (Women in Sheltered Housing) in Hyde by collecting over a period of two months every year toiletries, clothes, DVDs etc which can be used by the young women who are resident in this Home. We responded to an appeal for stationery for 
Our members visit the sick and call on families who have had their children baptised at St Mark’s to deliver their baptism certificates and show we care for their welfare. We also help with the Praise and Play Group and 
Church of England parishes are grouped into areas, known as Deaneries, which are then grouped into Diocese. St Mark’s is in the Mottram Deanery, in the Diocese of Chester. In August, all six branches from the Deanery MU arrived for the Lady Day Service at St Mark’s when we received the Deanery Banner. We visited Chester Cathedral in May for the Diocesan Festival where the banners from the Diocese are presented.
For more information on the Mothers'