The World-wide President of the MU, Rosemary Kempsall, shared this sad news in her blog last week.
Rosemary writes: I was reminded of the great age and history of the Mothers’ Union this week when I received from New Zealand pictures of Holy Trinity Avonside, Christchurch where the first Mothers’ Union branch was established outside of the United Kingdom in 1886 by the then vicar Canon Pascoe. This just 10 years after the organisation was founded in 1876 at Old Alresford in Hampshire.
Holy Trinity Church Avonside ‘the Mother Church of the Mothers’ Union in New Zealand’ was badly damaged by the earthquake that hit Christchurch last September and then totally destroyed by the disastrous second earthquake on the 22nd February earlier this year. Because of the extensive damage it will not be possible to repair it and it will shortly be deconsecrated.
It is a blessing that the two very old Mothers’ Union banners have been retrieved and are in safe keeping. For a number of years now there has not been a Mothers’ Union branch in Christchurch until last year when a new branch was born. I was glad to visit with them while I was in South Island last October and presented with a paper knife made from ‘kauri’ wood that had come from a pew in Holy Trinity. Consequently I feel that I now have a little of Mothers’ Union history that sits upon my work desk.
What a privilege!