Stoke St. Mary Branch Somerset, England 90th Anniversary - June 2001

Branch Picture Gallery Internet Link to The Mothers Union

BRANCH HISTORY Mrs Knight of 'The Old House' (which once stood next to the Chapel in Stoke St. Mary) used to hold weekly "Mothers Meetings" and Lady Isabel Grace Adams has recorded that her mother, Mrs H.F.B. Portman - wife of the Rev. Henry Fitzharding Berkeley Portman, (1838-1924), Rector of the three parishes - started meetings before 1911. In the handbook for 1911 at Mary Sumner House - the earliest handbook they have - there is an entry for Thurlbear where the Branch Secretary is Mrs. H.F.B.Portman of The Rectory. The entry also states that the branch was started that year. Countess Waldegrave, the President, writing her letter dated December 1909 in the Mothers Union Bath & Wells Diocesan Leaflet in 1910, includes that "we have now 153 Branches and 6316 Members and Associates, an increase of 521 in the last twelve months". In 1921 the branch is listed as Thurlbear and Orchard Portman. The entry in the 1936 handbook reads, Stoke St. Mary - see Thurlbear. This entry continued until 1944 when the branch was shown as Stoke St Mary - vacant! closure. The Branch soon recovered however and from 1945 the Branch has been known under various titles until 1967, when upon the arrival of the Rev. Stevens the Branch was joined by Staple Fitzpaine. Mothers Union Branch Banners are placed in St. Mary's, Stoke St. Mary; St. Michael's, Orchard Portman; and St. Peter's, Staple Fitzpaine. In 1987, the Revd. Keith Ellwood introduced 'The Pram Service' and the first was held on 11th June at Thurlbear Church followed by a picnic on the lawn of Orchard Portman House. The services followed annually in the month of June, with a picnic, until 1990 when the Revd. Geoffrey Cooke additionally arranged to have Pram Services in Holy Week and at Harvest. The Services continue to be an active part of St. Mary's calendar.