Person    | Female  Born 31/12/1828  Died 11/8/1921

Mary Elizabeth Sumner

Founded the Mothers’ Union in 1876. Born as Mary Elizabeth Heywood in Lancashire. 1848 she married George Henry Sumner, son of C. R. Sumner, Bishop of Winchester, and a second cousin of William Wilberforce. The birth of her first grand-child inspired her to gather the mothers in the parish to provide mutual support. This Mothers Union rapidly grew and in 1896 when it required a President she was unanimously elected, and held the post into her nineties.

Her three children were Margaret, Louisa Gore-Browne and George who became a successful artist. (Though the photo we found, on Louisa's page, suggests Mary and George had another child, Effie, born 1849, who married a Heywood.)

Wikipedia notes that other sources incorrectly give her date of death as the 9th.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Mary Elizabeth Sumner

Commemorated ati

Mothers' Union - left

To the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of Mary Elizabeth Sumner who ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Emily Wilberforce

Emily Wilberforce

In 1915 as Central President of the Mothers' Union she initiated the idea of a dedicated building which resulted in the opening of Mary Sumner House in 1925.  She resigned as President in 1919. Bo...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Queer Heritage

Queer Heritage

An appellation used on plaques erected by Sexual Avengers commemorating sites of gay events/interest.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Christabel Pankhurst

Christabel Pankhurst

Suffragette. Born Manchester, daughter of Emmeline, her eldest child and her favourite. Moved to America in 1939 and died in California.

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, USA

6 memorials
Elizabeth Croll

Elizabeth Croll

Born New Zealand. Scholar at SOAS specialising in the role of women in China. Vice Principal of SOAS. 2007 awarded CMG.

Person, Education, Gender Issues, China/Hong Kong, New Zealand

1 memorial
Catherine Walters (Skittles)

Catherine Walters (Skittles)

"The last Victorian Courtesan". Born Liverpool. Died at home 15 South Street. The Independent says: "Catherine Walters is regarded as the last of the great Victorian courtesans. Lovers were rumoure...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Byron Kennerly

Byron Kennerly

Pilot Officer, 71 Eagle Squadron, American

Person, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
Henry Sterry

Henry Sterry

The Quakers list a Henry Sterry born 1803 in the parish of St George the Martyr, Southwark and a Henry Sterry (1803-1869) was included in the group portrait of 'The Anti-Slavery Society Convention ...

Person, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Harry Barwood
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
William Offwood

William Offwood

From the parish of St Thomas in Bethnal Green and killed in WW1, a rifleman aged 37.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial