One hundred and fifty years is a remarkable span for any organisation, and the Mothers' Union is marking the milestone with a series of celebrations that honour both its founder and its future. This week, the Province of York gathered at Manchester Cathedral for a service that combined historical reflection with living community.

The unveiling of a commemorative plaque dedicated to Mary Sumner — who founded the Mothers' Union in 1876 with a vision of supporting families through the transforming power of the gospel — was a moment of genuine gratitude. Sumner's original conviction, that the health of society begins in the home and that mothers need the support of a community of faith, has lost none of its relevance.

The passing of a zonal prayer capsule to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham is a lovely symbol of continuity — a physical reminder that the prayers of one generation are handed on to the next. The global Wave of Prayer tribute connected the Manchester gathering to Mothers' Union members across the world, a movement now present in 83 countries.

As the Mothers' Union looks ahead to the next 150 years, it does so as an organisation that has consistently adapted its methods while holding firm to its founding conviction: that families matter, that women matter, and that faith makes a difference in both.