The Mothers’ Union branch at Holy Saviour’s was opened in 1931 and currently has 43 members. The members meet twice a month on the 1^st Monday and 3^rd Thursday at 2pm, but we do have several evening meetings a year to cater for the younger members who work. Our meetings always begin with a short service of worship taken by the members. The aim of the Mothers’ Union is the advancement of the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life, and the M.U. is active in supporting family life in many ways. Our branch are involved in the organisation of the monthly Pram Service in church on the 2^nd Monday at 2.30pm which is enjoyed by parents and grandparents as well as children from birth until nursery school age.

The Mothers' Union had a most successful Garden Party on Thursday 24th July in the Parish Centre and courtyard. Many people attended and the wonderful sum of £325 was raised which will be donated to the Mothers' Union Overseas Relief Fund. Many parts of Mayanmar were devastated a few months ago in the cyclone and funds are urgently needed to help M.U. workers as they attempt to help the homeless and displaced people in so many areas of that country.

On Saturday 9th August we are holding a Deanery Holy Communion service at 10am to mark Mary Sumner Day. Our assistant priest, the Reverend Dorothy Robinson, who was a former Diocesan President and was ordained priest at St Petertide in June, will celebrate. We look forward to members of Tynemouth Deanery joining us at this service.

We begin our autumn programme on Monday 1st September, at 7pm, with a talk by an authoress who lives in Cullercoats, Carole Clewlow, entitled 'Relationships in the novel'.

Origin: Founded by vicar's wife Mary Sumner in 1876 to promote marriage and Christian family life. Members must have been baptised, but there are no bars as to sex or even sexuality. All branches must have the support of their vicar.

Members: 140,000 in this country, one million worldwide, with a particularly strong presence in Africa.

Who they actually are: Active, committed Christians, often highly radical. In Uganda they were the only organisation to defy Amin and survive. The Mothers Union insisted on meeting and even walked through Kampala saying that if Amin chose to shoot them he would be shooting the mothers of the nation. In this country they are more likely to be found running prison creches or campaigning for debt relief for the developing world than handing round teacups at the vicarage,