York Diocesan Mothers' Union

Mother's Union diocesan committee minutes 1909-2007, annual reports 1912-2010, Union rules, regulations and standing orders, financial records, various publications including the members' handbooks and papers relating to the Mothers' Union Conference held at York Minster in 1913.
Branch records include papers relating to seven Yorkshire branches of the Union: Hessle (1940-2013), Norton (1954-2009), Helmsley (1958-2010), Old Malton St Mary (1975-2010), Kirbymisperton (1982-2010), Eston with Normanby (2006-2007) and St. Oswald's.

The Mothers' Union York Diocese was formed in 1891 as part of the national Mothers' Union, a women's network designed to support mothers from all backgrounds to raise their children in Christian faith which was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876. The York Diocesan Mothers' Union (YDMU)'s first president, Dora Pennyman, was selected by the Honourable Augusta Maclagan, wife of the then Archbishop of York and personal friend of Mary Sumner.
Today, YDMU is one of twelve diocesan Unions making up Mothers' Union York, which covers the northern province of England and the Isle of Man under the spiritual leadership of the Archbishop of York. At diocesan level, YDMU covers the city of York, the eastern part of North Yorkshire and most of the East Riding of Yorkshire, with over 1,400 members across various branches all working towards the common aims of opposing gender-based violence and domestic abuse, supporting refugees and asylum seekers and running parenting groups across Yorkshire.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

The archive was deposited with the Borthwick by the Diocesan Secretary in 2013, with an additional deposit of Mothers' Union branch records and financial papers in 2016.

The Mothers' Union York Diocese was formed in 1891 as part of the national Mothers' Union, a women's network designed to support mothers from all backgrounds to raise their children in Christian faith which was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876. The York Diocesan Mothers' Union (YDMU)'s first president, Dora Pennyman, was selected by the Honourable Augusta Maclagan, wife of the then Archbishop of York and personal friend of Mary Sumner.
Today, YDMU is one of twelve diocesan Unions making up Mothers' Union York, which covers the northern province of England and the Isle of Man under the spiritual leadership of the Archbishop of York. At diocesan level, YDMU covers the city of York, the eastern part of North Yorkshire and most of the East Riding of Yorkshire, with over 1,400 members across various branches all working towards the common aims of opposing gender-based violence and domestic abuse, supporting refugees and asylum seekers and running parenting groups across Yorkshire.

A reprographics service is available to researchers. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

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