Visitors Information re Celebration Day July 25th Newcastle Cathedral

• Only 11 weeks until our Celebration Day in the Cathedral on 25^th July.
• Please don’t forget to tell us roughly how many are coming from your branch or local area. Thank you to those who have already responded. 
• It is not too late to join in the singing/music group, or dance team.
• There is an initial rehearsal for singers on Saturday 16^th May – at St Francis Church, Heaton (near the Freeman Hospital) at 3.00-4.30.
• Further rehearsal dates for music and dance will be arranged soon.

Download a copy here 

Newcastle MU Celebration in the Cathedral

Saturday 25^th July. Open from 10.00 until 4.00

10.15 – 11.30 - Tea/Coffee available in the nave. Exhibits and activities.

11.00 – 11.30 – optional Cathedral tour with City Guide and MU member, Olive

12.00 – 1.00 - CELEBRATION SERVICE IN THE NAVE

1.00 - Buffet lunch in church – limited table space but plenty of chairs!

2.00- 2.30 – optional Cathedral tour with City Guide and MU member, Olive

Afternoon – free to wander / chat / look at exhibits.

Access: There is no parking at the Cathedral; there is public parking multi-storey in Dean Street. It is possible for cars / minibuses to stop briefly outside the main north door of the Cathedral to drop off and pick up. There is also a small drive entrance in front of the main door, immediately on turning left from Mosely Street at the traffic lights, for drop-off/pick-up only. Internal access is good.

The Celebration Service will be ‘in the round’ (more a square) in the nave. It will include a selection of readings, tributes, prayers, songs and images taking us on a journey through time. We shall be invited to give thanks for 150 years of MU; to value our current MU activities and projects; to pray in hope and go out in joy.

(Please note: there will be no communion; no procession. Photos of branch banners will be projected during the informal time before the service. Music will be provided by members and friends musicians and singers.)

What’s to see?

MU Story Exhibition posters (1^st July to 10^th August) by MU Newcastle

Rise Up Exhibition in Chapel of the Resurrection (1^st July to 10^th August) by the Diocesan and Internet branches

Table exhibits for the day in the nave.

• Historical exhibits and a ‘try on’ period clothes opportunity!
• Simple craft - Make a paper boat – required for the service!
• Add a stitch into Upper Coquetdale’s new banner.
• Card sales (Barbara Bailes cards and bookmarks) and Journal pick up.
• St Oswald’s Hospice ‘Peter Rabbit Appeal’ will also be present – look out for the garden veggies knitted by MU members.

Cards for the 150th Year of Mothers' Union

Download a poster

As part of our celebrations for the 150th anniversary of our wonderful organisation we have some cards and bookmarks available for sale. It is intended that the cards and the original paintings will be featured at the Service in the Cathedral in July. The  cards  come  in  three  designs  which  were  inspired  by the song  “Take  Me Up The Tyne  In  A  Little Boat”,  by Eric  Boswell.  Each  painting features the  “Little Boat”. The song  will  introduce  our  celebration  service.  Boats are  a feature  in the North East’s history, from coracles and ferries to trawlers and colliers. They symbolise the vulnerability of life, also our availability in faith for others Each card is in A5 format and comes packed with an envelope. The cost per card is £!.00 minimum. The 150th anniversary logos are also featured on the inside and reverse  of the  cards.   Profits to our  local Mothers’ Union Projects. The bookmarks also have the three designs and there is a fourth with an image of Mary Sumner with the Mary Sumner Prayer printed on each one. On the reverse is our Diocesan 150th Lantern Logo. They cost 50p each. The cards are not yet printed so it would be useful to have an idea of the demand for them.

Thank you      Barbara Bailes Branch Leader, Holy Cross, Newcastle

Resources for Takeover Sunday

Resources for the Sunday Takeover are now available on the MU website, these can be used and amended for any of your MU focused services over the coming months, including churches where there may not be a relationship with Mothers’ Union currently: 150th Celebrations and Events - Mothers' Union  

Keep checking in for further resources.

Click on this link to access the MSH website. Then click on the ‘National Activities’ box. In the Sunday Takeover paragraph, click on ‘here’ to access the Resources section.

The resources include: (click on the blue to download the file.)

• Service outline – based on a Service for the Word but with a suggested Eucharistic Prayer if needed for a Holy Communion service, suggested bible passages, hymns, additional prayers and some suggested creative ways to pray. With thanks to Canon Brian and colleagues in Monmouth for providing the intercessions.
• Talk outline – focused on the work of Mothers’ Union in Britain and All Ireland and globally.
• National programmes flyer – highlighting the national programmes and how to get involved.

Provincial Service in Manchester Cathedral celebrating 150 years of MU.

Branch Displays for 150th Anniversary

How Newcastle helped bring Mothers’ Union to light.

Celebration Midday Service at Newcastle Cathedral

Prayers for the 150th Year of Mothers' Union

Download a copy for your own use or at your branch: Click Here

PRAYERS for 150 Years of Mothers’ Union 2026  

to be placed in the time capsule and for use in meetings

Mothers’ Union 150^th Anniversary Prayer, Diocese of Newcastle

Lord of Light and Life,

we thank you for the vision of Mary Sumner,

for 150 years of The Mothers’ Union,

and for all the members who

have come and gone over this time.

Though diverse in many ways,

we are one in our desire to bring to others

the comfort and hope that should be felt by everyone.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit

that we may live in the ways of Mary Sumner,

with compassion and commitment.

Be our beacon of light as we journey on,

and help us to spread love, joy and peace

throughout this diocese and across the world;

in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Mothers Union 150^th Anniversary Provincial Prayer for the Province of York

Lord of all life,

we give you thanks for the 150^th anniversary of the Mothers’ Union.

We bless you for the vision of Mary Sumner

to share the love of Jesus in support of family life.

We praise you for the mission and service

of the Mother’s Union across the world.

As we continue in the vision of our founder in this land,

we especially offer to you our work of outreach in prisons

and campaigns against domestic abuse,

gender-based violence and modern slavery.

We pray that you will pour out your Spirit upon us,

to bless, renew and refresh

the work of the Mothers’ Union in the Province of York.

Together and dispersed, may we bring glory to Jesus

and hope to our communities.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Mary Sumner Prayer Card and Logo available to download

Our Hopes for the 150th Anniversary 2026

Our Hopes in Newcastle Diocese for the 150^th Anniversary 2026

(also the diocesan ‘Year of Sharing’)

Many thanks for your commitment and prayers and for the many stories and photos about your branches.

Update and Reminder of suggestions for branch activities

On our website www.munewcastle.org.uk  (Resources for displays/talks)

• 12 posters covering the history of MU in Newcastle Diocese
• ‘How Newcastle helped bring MU to light’ (a 10 page story)
• Prayers for 150^th year – Newcastle’s and the York provincial prayer
• PowerPoint: A Brief history of MU in Newcastle Diocese
• Printable cards with Mary Sumner’s Prayer and lantern logo

MU CAPSULE. This will be handed over to us from Carlisle Diocese on Sunday 10^th May at 2.00pm in Hexham Abbey. We will hand it on to Durham Diocese on Sunday 17^th May at 1.00pm in St Mary and St Cuthbert Church Hall, Chester-le-Street (parking available). Sheila Auld has written a prayer for the capsule and for us to use during the year.

‘MU on SUNDAY’ - MU members are asked to contribute to one Sunday service, eg Mothering Sunday or Mary Sumner Day (9^th August) which falls on a Sunday this year. Perhaps leading intercessions? Signing Mary Sumner’s Prayer? Speaking about MU? (The PowerPoint on the website can be used for an illustrated talk.) Giving out MU prayer cards?

LIGHTING THE WAY. Our Central Gathering on Saturday 25^th July in Newcastle Cathedral 10.00-2.00. This is our BIG Diocesan Celebration for 150^th anniversary for members and friends. Exhibitions and Celebratory Midday Prayer. Coffee and lunch provided. Bring a friend. All welcome.

Fund-raising events for MU Projects – an opportunity to engage others.

The 150^th Prayer Book - ‘Lighting the Way’ (150 prayers from across the globe) is available from MSH at £5.99. Jackie Moore’s prayer is included.