Mary Sumner facts for kids
Mary Sumner (born December 31, 1828 – died August 11, 1921) was an important woman who started the Mothers' Union. This is a large Christian women's group connected to the Anglican Communion, which is a worldwide family of Christian churches. Many Anglican churches remember her on August 9 each year.
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Mary's Early Life
Mary Elizabeth Heywood was born on December 31, 1828. She grew up in a town called Swinton, near Salford, in England. She was the third of four children. Her father, Thomas Heywood, was a banker who loved studying old things. Her mother was a very religious woman.
In 1832, Mary's family moved to Colwall, near Ledbury. Her mother often held meetings for mothers there. A year after they moved, Mary's baby brother died when he was only six weeks old. These experiences—her mother's strong faith, the mothers' meetings, and the loss of her brother—might have inspired Mary many years later to create the Mothers' Union.
Mary was taught at home. She learned to speak three different languages and was a good singer. To finish her music lessons, she traveled to Rome with her mother and older sister. While in Rome, she met George Henry Sumner, who would become her husband. George's father was a bishop, a high-ranking church leader.
Mary and George got married in Colwall on July 26, 1848. George had become an Anglican minister 18 months before. They had three children: Margaret, Louise, and George. Their son George later became a famous artist.
In 1851, George became the minister of a church in Old Alresford, Hampshire. Mary focused on raising her children and helping her husband with his church work. She helped with music and taught Bible classes.
Starting the Mothers' Union
In 1876, Mary's oldest daughter, Margaret, had a baby. This reminded Mary how challenging she had found being a mother. Feeling inspired, Mary decided to organize a meeting for mothers in her church area. She wanted them to support each other.
Her idea was quite new for the time. She wanted women from all social backgrounds to come together. She also wanted them to see motherhood as a very important job, just as important as men's jobs, or even more so.
The first meeting was held at the Old Alresford Rectory, which was the minister's home. Mary was so nervous that her husband had to speak for her. He invited the women to come back the next week. At the second meeting, Mary had gained enough courage to lead the meeting herself.
At first, the new Mothers' Union was only in Mary's local church area. However, in 1885, Mary attended a big church meeting in Portsmouth. The Bishop of Newcastle was supposed to speak to the women there. He felt he didn't have much to say to women, so he asked Mary to speak instead. Even though she was nervous again, Mary gave a powerful speech. She talked about how important mothers were for making the country better.
Many women at that meeting went back to their own churches and started mothers' groups like Mary's. Soon after, the Bishop of Winchester made the Mothers' Union an organization for his entire church area.
Growth of the Mothers' Union
The idea of the Mothers' Union quickly spread across the United Kingdom. By 1892, there were 60,000 members in 28 church areas. By the year 1900, the Mothers' Union had grown to 169,000 members!
The group started holding big yearly meetings in 1893. Three years later, the Mothers' Union Central Council was formed. Mary Sumner was chosen as president by everyone, and she stayed in that role even when she was in her nineties.
In 1897, Queen Victoria, the ruler of Britain, became a supporter of the Mothers' Union. This was a huge sign of approval. The Mothers' Union then started branches in countries all over the British Empire, beginning in New Zealand, then Canada, and India. Mary lived to see the Mothers' Union help rebuild Britain after World War I. She also saw the first meeting of Mothers' Union workers from overseas in 1920.
Mary's Death and Legacy
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Mary Sumner passed away on August 11, 1921, when she was 92 years old. She is buried with her husband, who had died 12 years before her. Their tomb is on the grounds of Winchester Cathedral.
The words on their tomb come from a Bible verse: "I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me/ Write Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord from henceforth./ Here, saith the Spirit, they may rest from their labours,/ And their works do follow them."
Mary Sumner is remembered in the Church of England with a special day called a Lesser Festival on August 9. The Church in Wales and other church groups also remember her on August 9. Mary Sumner House, located at 24 Tufton Street in London, is the main office for the Mothers' Union. It was named in her honor. This building, built in 1925, is a Grade II listed building, meaning it has special historical protection. Inside, there is also the Mary Sumner Chapel.
