Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Rochester, is delighted to announce today (Monday 3 March), that The Rev Michael Payne, Vicar at Gravesend St Aidan, has accepted his invitation to become the Chaplain to Rochester Diocese Mothers' Union.
The Mothers' Union movement began in 1876. Mary Sumner, the wife of a rector in Hampshire, set up a group to support mothers of all kinds in bringing up their children.
After delivering a speech in 1885 to churchgoing women at the Portsmouth Church Congress, she inspired many of them to go back to their parishes and set up similar groups.
The movement today is made up of hundreds of individual Mothers' Union charities spread across 83 countries, making up four million members worldwide, who work together to solve challenges in their local communities.
Mary Margaret Yates, Diocesan President Mothers’ Union Rochester Diocese says:
“We are looking forward to having Fr Michael as our chaplain, he has already demonstrated interest in various projects and activities of the Mothers’ Union and I feel he will be a support to the members and a great asset in spreading the news about Mothers’ Union throughout the diocese.”
Reflecting on his appointment, the Rev Michael Payne says:
"The Mothers' Union is a dynamic and vibrant global organisation doing vital work for the Kingdom of God in real lives and real places.
"I am delighted to take up this role and look forward to supporting current branches in our diocese whilst seeking to raise awareness of the Mothers' Union more widely."
Michael will Deacon at the Mothers’ Union Commissioning Service at Rochester Cathedral on Saturday 22 March.
If you would like to find out more about the Rochester Diocese Mothers' Union please visit:
www.mothersunion.org/diocese/rochester