Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers' Union
Who was Mary Sumner (1828 - 1921)? She is best known as the founder of the Mothers' Union . If you were to go to her grave at Winchester Cathedral, England on 9 August you might find flowers placed there that day by Mothers' Union members. That is because this is the day when she is commemorated in the Church of England calendar, although she actually died on the 11th not the 9th August 1921. Born Mary Elizabeth Heywood in 1828 in Manchester, she married George Sumner in 1848. He was a Church of England clergyman. For many years she supported her husband's work in the parish of Old Alresford near Winchester, Hampshire, England. Mary Sumner saw the need for a supportive group of mothers. She wanted to bring together women who could support and learn from one another about how to be a good example to children and keep prayer central to family life. In the summer of 1876 she convened the first group meeting in the Rectory of Old Alresford, inviting 40 local wome...