Memories shared as St Polycarp’s Mothers’ Union celebrates 80th anniversary

Monday October 7th 2024

Pictured following St Polycarp’s Mothers’ Union’s 80th anniversary service are, from left: Dorothy-Anne Crawford, daughter of the branch’s founder, Dorothy Butler; Sally Cotter, Connor MU President; Alison Skillen, St Polycarp’s MU branch chair; Wendy Houston, past Enrolling Member; June Butler, All Ireland MU President; and Jean Sheridan, past Enrolling Member and St Polycarp’s MU treasurer. (Photo: Rev Clifford Skillen)

Report by the Rev Clifford Skillen

“A wonderful occasion of celebration and of friendships renewed and memories shared” was how Alison Skillen, St Polycarp’s Mothers’ Union branch chair, described a recent evening marking the 80^th anniversary of the parish’s Mothers’ Union branch.

The branch was founded in 1944 by Dorothy Butler, wife of the then rector of Finaghy, Canon John Charles Butler.

SPECIAL GUESTS

One of the special guests was Dorothy Anne Crawford, the Butlers’ daughter, who represented a welcome and valuable link between past and present. Mrs Crawford cut an anniversary cake during light refreshments following the service.

Also present were Sally Cotter, Connor Diocesan Mothers’ Union President, who gave the address, and June Butler MBE, All Ireland Mothers’ Union President and Zonal Trustee-elect for Ireland, who read the Epistle.

Towards the end of the evening, Mrs Skillen made presentations to all three special guests in recognition of their participation in the occasion.

WORSHIP

Dorothy-Anne Crawford (left) cuts the cake to celebrate St Polycarp’s Mothers’ Union branch’s 80th anniversary. She is accompanied by Alison Skillen, the branch’s chair. (Photo Rev Clifford Skillen)

The thanksgiving service of Holy Communion was led by the Rev Louise Stewart, rector of Finaghy and Upper Malone, assisted by the Rev Clifford Skillen, a former rector of Finaghy, who also read the Gospel. Intercessions were led by members of St Polycarp’s Mothers’ Union branch.

The choir, led by the Director of Music, Simon Neill-O’Brien BEM, sang the anthem, Non Nobis, Domine.

Prior to the start of the service, Mrs Skillen welcomed all present and outlined a brief history of the branch. Following the Intercessions, she read the Mothers’ Union Aims and Objectives, ending with the Mothers’ Union prayer.

‘FAITH IN ACTION’

Both Mrs Cotter and Mrs Butler conveyed their warmest congratulations to the branch on reaching its 80^th anniversary.

In her address, Mrs Cotter highlighted a number of areas of the worldwide work of Mothers’ Union as a Christian membership charity, describing it as ‘faith in action [and] bringing hope and practical support to millions of people every year through parenting, literacy and community development programmes.’

She went on to outline the lives of the Mothers’ Union founder, Mary Sumner, and its founder in Ireland, Annabella Hayes, using their lives, work and vision to illustrate the organisation’s aims and objectives, especially in relation to home and family life, the upbringing of children in a Christian atmosphere and the position and rights of women in society.

She reflected that little did either of them realise when they held their first meeting (in Old Arlesford, Hampshire, in 1876 and in Raheny, Dublin, in 1887) that in the 21^st century, worldwide membership would have grown to over four million.

SOCIAL PROJECTS

Mrs Butler referred to the ‘absolutely brilliant’ work members of St Polycarp’s branch had done down the years to help those most in need.

She referenced the Gospel reading (St Matthew 25: 31-46, the parable of the sheep and the goats) as representing “what Mothers’ Union is all about”, illustrating some of the social projects which members had undertaken in Ireland at branch, parish, community and diocesan level to improve the quality of life of those in adversity.

MEMORIES SHARED

Reflecting on the evening, Mrs Skillen said that it had been ‘a wonderful occasion of celebration when friendships in Mothers’ Union had been renewed and many memories shared in an important milestone for the branch and parish.’

She thanked present and past members and enrolling members and members from the other branches in the South Belfast Area for their support, and also all those in the parish who had worked hard behind the scenes to make the evening such an enjoyable and happy success.