Mothers’ Union Festival Service marks 150th anniversary

Tuesday April 28th 2026

Connor Mothers’ Union Diocesan President Alison Skillen, centre, with Chaplain, the Rev Louise Stewart, third from right, and guest speaker Kay Clarke, MU All-Ireland President, second from left. Also pictured are those who were commissioned during the annual Festival Service on Sunday April 26. From left: Jacqui McLoughlin, Unit Coordinator for Faith and Policy; Norma Bell, Unit Coordinator for Finance and Administration; Nadine Davison, Diocesan Treasurer; and Joyce Bond, Vice-President of Faith and Policy Unit.

The annual Connor Mothers’ Union Festival Service took place in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Sunday April 26. [FULL PICTURE GALLERY BELOW]

This is a milestone year for Mothers’ Union as it marks the 150th anniversary of its founding by Mary Sumner in the parish of Old Arlesford, near Winchester, Hampshire, in 1876.

This year’s guest speaker was Kay Clarke, MU All-Ireland President.

The service began with a procession of colourful banners representing parish branches throughout the diocese. The Cathedral Banner was carried by Karen Miles, Cathedral MU branch committee member, and the Diocesan Banner by Alison Skillen, Connor MU Diocesan President.

The banners were received respectively by the Rev Canon Raymond Fox and the Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev Stephen Forde.

COMMISSIONINGS

In the course of the service, the Connor MU Diocesan Chaplain, the Rev Louise Stewart, commissioned Norma Bell as Unit Coordinator for Finance and Administration; Joyce Bond as Vice-President of Faith and Policy Unit; Nadine Davison as Diocesan Treasurer; and Jacqui McLoughlin as Unit Coordinator for Faith and Policy.

Following the commissionings, Diocesan President Alison Skillen read the Mothers’ Union Aims and Objectives.

Caroline Glover, Area Chair of North Connor, read the Old Testament lesson – Ezra 3: 10-13 – with Sheila Harper, Area Chair of East Connor, reading the New Testament lesson – Luke 19: 37-48.

The Intercessions were led by Jacqui McLoughlin, Unit Coordinator for Faith and Policy, and Sandie McKendry, Diocesan Prayer Contact.

Worship was led by the Cathedral Choir, conducted by Jack Wilson, the Cathedral’s Organist and Master of Music, accompanied by Jack McCabe, Sub Organist and Assistant Master of Music.

The anthem chosen for the occasion was Brahms’ ‘How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!’

A CALL TO WITNESS AND SERVE

In her address, the All-Ireland President drew on aspects of both readings to illustrate examples of the work and ministry of Mothers’ Union over 150 years.

In Luke’s Gospel, she referred to the disciples refusing to be silent about what they had seen God doing, Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and then declaring the Temple to be a house of prayer.

She applied these to the work of Mothers’ Union past, present and future – ‘a calling to witness for Christ with joy … to serve others with compassion … to root everything we do in prayer.’

In the story told in Ezra, Kay said that, like the people of God who gathered when the foundations of the rebuilt temple were laid, the life of Mothers’ Union carried something of that same spirit over the last 150 years – ‘gratitude for the past and trust in the future that Mothers’ Union will remain a living sign of God’s hope in the world.’

She closed by asserting that prayer lay at the very centre of Christian life and for Mothers’ Union it was ‘not an optional extra (but) the foundation of everything … shaping our hearts, deepening our compassion, reminding us that the work we do is ultimately God’s work.’ She hoped that members would continue to proclaim that ‘Christ is alive and at work among his people.’

INSPIRING OCCASION

During refreshments served in the south aisle following the service, the Diocesan President thanked everyone who had contributed to such a ‘truly uplifting and inspiring Festival Service.’

Alison continued: “The atmosphere of warmth, togetherness and fellowship so evident throughout the service, together with Kay’s incisive address, affirmed the work of Mothers’ Union within the diocese and beyond and our commitment to its aims and objectives and to each other.”

Chaplain Louise Stewart commented: “It was a great joy for me to carry out my first ‘official’ duty as Diocesan Chaplain in the course of such a joyful and happy occasion.

“It is a great privilege both to commission office-bearers and to support members in the diocese practically and spiritually.”

Report by the Rev Clifford Skillen