They have funded seaside breaks for families in need, given food and drink to the hungry and homeless, helped children maintain links with imprisoned fathers, supported couples marrying in churches and war refugees rebuilding shattered lives in Norfolk.
And they create magnificent church banners.
The work of Mothers’ Union members across Norfolk and Waveney is celebrated in a new book, compiled to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the worldwide Christian movement.
The book of prose, poems and prayers, collected by Katherine Gray from members across Norfolk and Waveney, is called Grassroots, in honour of the grassroots nature of an organisation started by a village rector’s wife in 1876.
Mary Sumner’s group of mothers learned together about topics ranging from childcare and nutrition to missionary work. Her local meeting grew into an international movement and millions of Mothers’ Union members around the world still work with love and faithfulness in their communities – including parishes across the Diocese of Norwich, where branch meetings combine service, prayer, friendship and fund-raising.
Grassroots features Mothers’ Union projects such as Away From It All Holidays which arranges family caravan breaks at Caister-on-Sea, Angel Tree which helps prisoners in Wayland Prison near Watton maintain links with their children, and Refugee Resettlement which works alongside social workers to provide bedding, and hand-knitted teddy bears, for refugee families.
The book was compiled by Katherine Gray who is the third generation of her family to be part of Mothers’ Union. Her mother, Josephine Cook, led the Mothers’ Union project to set up a multi-purpose Christian centre, in All Saints Church, Norwich, which ran for 35 years. “It welcomed shoppers, office workers, homeless and displaced people providing affordable refreshments and somewhere to keep warm,” said Katherine, who is branch leader of High Oak Mothers’ Union (Deopham, Hackford, Morley and Wicklewood with Crownthorpe) where her mother and grandmother were both members.
With a mission to support marriage and family life, local Mothers’ Union members have hosted lunches and workshops for couples planning church weddings and given gifts to babies after baptisms. They have supported charities working with people fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking and made pocket crosses and knitted hearts to show love for people who are ill.
Another Mothers’ Union initiative is Midday Prayers. Members around the world pray at midday, local time, creating a wave of prayer around the globe. In Norfolk there are Midday Prayers at Norwich Cathedral on the first Thursday of each month. There is also an annual Festival Service at Norwich Cathedral (on May 7 this year) which is a chance to showcase the beautiful banners created by groups over many decades.
There are 23 Mothers’ Union branches across diocese and, from Cromer to Attleborough, Great Yarmouth to the Woottons, Swaffham to Spixworth and Lowestoft to Little Melton, all have contributed to Grassroots.
All proceeds from the book, and from the sale of the artwork created for the book by Amanda Hart of Fakenham Mothers’ Union will go towards the work of Mothers’ Union.
In his foreword to the book the Bishop of Norwich the Rt Revd Graham Usher said: “The inspirational work of the Mothers’ Union reminds us that faith is not just preached from pulpits but lived out daily in care for a neighbour, help for a stranger in need, advocacy for justice.
“As we celebrate 150 years of the Mothers’ Union, I am so thankful for each member who has prepared the soil, sown the seeds and tended the garden, helping the love of God to flourish across our communities.
May Grassroots encourage all who read it to see themselves as part of a root system, grounded in love, nourished by grace, and reaching out to share God’s transforming presence across Norfolk and Waveney.”
Grassroots, Commemorating 150 years of Mothers’ Union, compiled by Katherine Gray with illustrations by Amanda Hart, costs £12 and is available from Katherine (call 01953 604954 or email johngrayotc@gmail.com) and at 150th anniversary events through 2026.
Anniversary events include the Festival Service in Norwich Cathedral on May 7, a quiet day at Walsingham in June, a picnic in Norwich Cathedral Close in August and tree planting across the diocese.
Illustrations by Amanda Hart. Photograph of Katherine Gray and Amanda Hart