×The History of the Waltham Abbey Mothers’ Union

The first Mothers' Union Handbook held in the Diocesan archives is dated 1892 and is the second one published by the diocese of St. Alban’s of which we were then a part. Although the branch at Waltham Abbey is listed, it does not give any idea of when it was started - maybe old parish records could give this information although it's very unlikely to have been before 1885.

In that Handbook, the branch is given as having 31 members under the leadership of Lady Victoria Buxton. By 1900 members had risen to 100 and In 1901 Monkham, Sewardstone and Warlies were shown as sub-branches. By 1913 Waltham Abbey had joined with Sewardstone giving a joint membership of 150 and Lady Victoria took over Upshire.

In 1914 the Diocese of Chelmsford was formed together with a deanery structure and Waltham Abbey was listed in the first handbook of the new diocese under the heading of Chigwell deanery.

During the war years branch member dropped to 18 and in the following years fluctuated between 40 and 83 until with 37 members it went into abeyance in 1977.

The branch re-opened in 1991 with 22 members and has continued to date with numbers at 23 to 25.

×Meetings

Meetings are normally held every other month on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 p.m. in the Abbey Church.

2026 Programme
3rd February
AGM.
3rd March
Lenten reflections led by Judith Meaden.
7th April
Visiting speaker: Lucy Bubb.
5th May
Visiting speaker: Hale from Changing Pathways Women’s Refuge. 2.00 p.m. in the Abbey Church
6th June
Afternoon tea.
7th July
Summer service and social led by the Revd. Peter Smith.
26th August
MU publications ordering. 1.30 p.m. in the Olive Branch.
8th September
Visiting speaker: Martin Reynolds – Reflections on Climbing and Christianity.
1st December
Christmas Quiz evening and Secret Santa!
15th December
Christmas Service led by the Revd. Trevor Scott.

All events are held in the Abbey Church unless stated otherwise.