Celebrating 150 Years of The Mothers Union

Members of the Mothers' Union across Wales are joining Christians around the world this year to mark a milestone, 150 years since one of the Anglican Communion's most enduring movements was born.

While the whole of Wales is celebrating this landmark year, the Diocese of Swansea & Brecon holds a particularly special place in the story of the Mothers' Union in Wales. The first Welsh branch of the Mothers' Union was established by the wife of the Rector of Llandrindod Wells in 1884, making the diocese not just a participant in this anniversary, but the very place where the movement first put down roots in Welsh soil.

The diocese stretches from the rural market towns of Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Hay on Wye, Crickhowell and Brecon, through the Brecon Beacons and down through the Swansea Valley to the city of Swansea and the Gower Peninsula. It is a diocese of striking contrasts; upland communities and a coastal city, yet the Mothers' Union has threaded itself through all of it for well over a century.

Today, Swansea & Brecon has 34 branches with around 812 members, with indoor members; those who are housebound through age, illness, or caring responsibilities, receiving Christmas and Easter greetings, a diocesan newsletter, and providing vital prayerful support for the ongoing work of the Union.

The breadth of practical work carried out by members across the diocese reflects the Mothers' Union at its best. Members provide support for families in Safe Houses, donating food at key times of the year as well as toiletries and school uniforms, and offer caravan holidays for families in need. This quiet, consistent care for those on the margins of society has been the hallmark of the movement since its earliest days in mid-Wales.

Wales -Wide Celebrations

The anniversary year has seen memorable moments across the whole province. Members of Mothers' Union Llandaff gathered at the Cathedral to receive a Cross of Nails in recognition of their membership of the Community of the Cross of Nails, a worldwide network dedicated to peace and reconciliation, with the presentation taking place on the 85th anniversary of the bombing of Llandaff Cathedral during the Blitz. The Mothers' Union in the Province of Wales will formally affiliate with the Community of the Cross of Nails in 2026, creating a significant and lasting legacy as part of the province's 150th anniversary celebrations.

The torch will arrive at Brecon Cathedral on May 30th 2026

Nationally, members from Wales are among those joining a special 150th celebratory service at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 10th June 2026. Later in the year, a worldwide gathering will take place in South Africa from 30th September to 3rd October 2026, bringing together members from across the globe.

Every diocese across Britain and Ireland has been invited to welcome 150 brand new members during 2026. A fundraising challenge has also been launched, with each diocese given £150 in seed funding and challenged to turn it into £1,500 or more through events ranging from bake sales and bike rides to concerts and sponsored prayer walks.

As the Mothers' Union looks ahead, its purpose remains as vital as ever. For the Diocese of Swansea & Brecon, this anniversary year carries a particular pride — as the place where Welsh women first answered Mary Sumner's call, 142 years ago in a small mid-Wales spa town, and where that same spirit of faith in action continues today.

The torch will be make its way to Brecon, where a service of thanksgiving will take place on Saturday, May 30th at 2pm.

Read more about the history of this wonderful organisation.

For more information on the Mothers' Union in the Diocese of Swansea & Brecon, visit mothersunion.org/diocese/swansea-brecon.