As many prepare to celebrate 150 years of Mothers’ Union at St Phillip’s Cathedral on Saturday 25 July, we sat down with Birmingham Mothers’ Union Diocesan President Rowena Nicholls to find out more about the organisation’s life-changing work.
Mothers’ Union is a worldwide Christian movement with over 4 million members in over 80 countries, dedicated to ending poverty, violence and social injustice in communities in the UK and around the world.
Like many members of Mothers’ Union, Rowena joined because her own mother was a member. She became the leader of her branch at St Laurence Church in Northfield, a role she continues to hold during her term as Diocesan President.
Ending poverty, violence and social injustice worldwide
It wasn’t until Rowena attended an annual meeting in Birmingham in the 1990s that she realised the breadth of the organisation’s work.
She explains, “Many people may imagine that Mothers’ Union is a group of older ladies sitting around having a cup of tea. But when I went along to my first annual meeting, I was astounded by the work that actually went on in the UK and around the world.”
In 2024, Mothers’ Union helped 2.7 million people worldwide, and the charity’s international work focuses on issues such as promoting literacy and ending violence. The organisation provides school meals, maternity care and period products, as well as empowering women to start their own businesses.
Rowena explains how important it is to provide ongoing support. “If there’s a need and we can help, we will. But we’re also there for the long term.”
Supporting families in Birmingham
Closer to home, Birmingham Mothers’ Union do a variety of work in the city and region, from knitting for premature babies, to helping families in adversity go on holidays or day trips.
The charity’s ‘Being Dad’ courses for fathers in prison help members to, “build family relationships, so that while dads are in prison – and also when they’re released – those family units are kept together.”
At Rowena’s branch in Northfield, Mothers’ Union runs a baby bank, where people donate baby clothes and equipment for mothers in need.
Rowena shares one story of being called by a midwife and being told a new mum had been discharged from hospital with her newborn to an empty flat.
She says, “5 o’clock on Tuesday, she walked into this flat. No furniture, nothing. And by 8 o’clock, we’d got the Moses basket, we’d got baby clothes, we’d got baby milk. We’d got her sorted.”
“That gives you a real buzz. It’s one of those moments you really remember. Because that mum had absolutely nothing and we could help. And that’s what keeps you going because there’s just so much need out there.”
Encouraging new members
Mothers’ Union was founded in 1876 by Mary Sumner, when she became a grandmother, and realised that mothers needed the support of a wider community. 150 years ago, membership was exclusive to mothers, and the focus was on supporting new mothers and protecting the family unit.
Rowena explains that “over the years, the family has changed, and our membership has changed. We used to be all women until about 50 years ago, and now we have men and women. It’s evolving all the time, but the nuts and bolts are still there to support families.”
She encourages anyone interested to find out more about becoming a member.
“Become a member of the Mothers’ Union because you really believe in the work that we do. Not because we meet once a month for a cup of tea.
“We might do the teas at church, but we do so much good work out there. We just want people to join us and be part of that.”
Find out more about membership and events on Birmingham Mothers’ Union website
Join the Celebration Service at Birmingham Cathedral on Saturday 25 July at 15.00.