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NEW MOTHERS' UNION PRESIDENT WELCOMED IN SOUTHWARK

1 April 2004

A packed Southwark Cathedral welcomed the incoming Mothers' Union (MU) Diocesan President Ann Wright - and thanked retiring President Maureen Kyle - at the annual MU Festival Service on Saturday 27 March.

This year's service - for 'The International Year of the Family' - followed the theme of 'Family'. It began with a parade of MU branch banners up the central aisle, which peeled left and right and lined the side aisles to be welcomed to the Cathedral by Canon Bruce Saunders. Canon Saunders also welcomed visitors from the MU's 'international family', including a representative from the Anglican Diocese of Northern Uganda and MU members from Zimbabwean communities across the UK.

The service was led by Southwark MU Chaplain, the Rev. Graham Paddick, and included readings by representatives from all parts of the Diocese. There was a dramatised reading of the Gospel by members of All Saints Church in South Merstham, and the singing was led by an MU choir and the music group, 'Cross Purpose'. A choir of Zimbabwean Mothers' Union members sang 'Hark my soul' in Shona.

Preaching at the service, the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev. Dr Thomas Butler referred to the MU as being, "the Church of England's best kept secret". He praised their gift for hospitality, not just in providing "cups of tea for visiting Bishops" or running courses in hospitality for wives of the leaders of newly independent nations, but in caring for AIDS orphans in Africa, for example - actions which he described as "true hospitality."

Ends.

For further information contact: 

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468