Mary Sumner (1828 - 1921)
Mary Elizabeth Heywood was born in Swinton, near Manchester in 1828, and her family moved to Herefordshire in 1832 when they bought the estate of Hope End in Colwall from the Barretts.
Her father, Thomas Heywood, was a banker from Lancashire and a historian. He rebuilt much of Hope End, but was more interested in Ledbury than Colwall. He was a generous benefactor to Wellington Heath, and was a prime mover in making sure that the railway passed through Ledbury; hence it takes the route through Colwall that we see today. Mary's mother was a woman of faith, charm and sympathy, qualities that Mary inherited. Mrs Heywood held "mothers' meetings" at Hope End. These may have been some of the inspiration for Mary's later work.
Mary was educated at home and could speak three foreign languages, and sing well. Whilst she was finishing her musical education in Rome, she met George Sumner, the youngest son of Charles Sumner, Bishop of Winchester. Mary and George fell in love and were married at St James Church, Colwall on 26th July 1848, when he was 24, just 18 months after his ordination. They were married for 61 years.
Mary moved to Old Alresford near Winchester with her husband in 1851, together with their two baby girls, Margaret and Louise. A son, Heywood, was born later.
In 1876, Mary, concerned to strengthen and support Christian family life, called a meeting at the rectory to which she invited not only those of her own social class but all the village mothers, something unusual in itself for that era. This was the inaugural meeting of the Mothers' Union. Mary eventually saw Mothers' Union become a worldwide organisation. She passed away on 9th August 1921 and is buried with her husband in the garden at the rear of Winchester Cathedral.
Each year on the anniversary of her death members of the Mothers' Union in the Winchester Diocese place flowers on the grave on behalf of the 3.7 million members worldwide.
Sources
- Colwall Village Society: Colwall Folk
- History of the Mothers' Union