Reaching new heights for Mothers Union
Karen Hill (Branch Leader)
As part of the Mothers’ Union 150th Anniversary celebrations, a team from Chichester Diocese took on an exciting challenge – climbing over the O2 Arena in London.
The decision to have such a challenge, came some 2 years before the event. In the Gospel of Matthew important events all happen high up. 150 years of women and men working within Mothers’ Union to support families felt like an important event. In truth as we sat in a trustee meeting with our feet very firmly on the floor climbing over the O2 Arena seemed like an obvious challenge and celebration. Members who climbed could be sponsored and it would be a good way to get publicity for our wonderful Charity.
Mothers’ Union is an international charity, with the head office at Mary Sumner House (MSH), they decided to use the parable of the talents and to give each Diocese £150 to use on a project to promote and grow Mothers’ Union. It was asked that we tried to turn the £150 into £1,500. Volunteers were asked for to climb the O2 in late 2025, two members of our congregation approached me for more details, and after a few weeks and meeting our local members, decided to join and take the challenge. These 2 brave women are Leonie Wells, our Pastoral Intern and Karen Maxey who is active in our Sunday School, and other Church outreach. We were booked to climb to the top and hold Midday Prayers at the summit.
On Wednesday 10th June 2026, a group of us arrived at the O2 arena, which on close inspection is really rather high. There were 7 of us who agreed to do the climb, Michele White our current Diocesan President, Hayley Cole our Diocesan Administrator, Jane a member from Worth and Pound Hill, who decided to climb despite waiting on a hip replacement. Our 2 newest members Leonie and Karen with Kathryn Anderson and myself, who were past Diocesan Presidents. We had members cheering us on, Ron White and Andy Anderson, Sue Gillard from our Branch, and Rosemary Harman, trustee.
As we went in to have our safety video, and adorn safety equipment there was a mixture of excitement, anticipation and in my case fear (I don’t do heights – maybe something I should have thought of earlier!). We slowly, with a very patient instructor – Daisy climbed to the top. The first platform was easy, just stairs. The second half with a 30-degree incline was a ribbed rubber pathway, no one was allowed to bounce but the floor moved with each step. An unusual experience.
We all got to the top, celebrated with “Fizz” of various kinds, and standing in a circle we joined with members across the world praying to God, the clouds broke apart as we prayed and in that moment we all felt closer to our Lord.
We started the climb down, “Go backwards”, said Daisy. Backwards! Then the rain clouds came rolling in, “How easy is it to climb down if the surface gets wet? “I asked Daisy. She pulled a face, not great then, so we fair scuttled down before the rains came. It’s fair to say we came down quicker than we went up.
Well all got a medal and mine is hanging on my bedpost, as my 4-year-old granddaughter informed me, that is where medals are kept!
It was a memorable day, after lunch we went for lunch then the celebration service in St Pauls. The cathedral was packed with members from all over the world, our Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally Presided at the Eucharist, at the end we were told that they had never had so many people taking communion in St Pauls at the same time; 1500 of us, took half an hour to distribute the bread and wine. It was a Special Day.
How did we do with the sponsorship? The 3 of us were so well supported we raised some £1,000 and our thanks to all our Church family who sponsored us and family and friends. We have added this to the other members sponsorship and what began as a £1,500 target has now raised an incredible £3,608, plus Gift Aid as at 9.7.26.
This remarkable total is more than double the original goal and continues to support the vital work of Mothers’ Union, both here in Britain and Ireland and all around the world. Through practical projects, advocacy and prayer, Mothers’ Union works to strengthen family life, support vulnerable families, empower woman, combat injustice and violence and bring hope to communities in need.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who sponsored the climbers, prayed for them, shared fundraising appeals, offered words of encouragement along the way. The achievement belongs to all who took part and supported the journey.
There is still time to support the appeal!
The JustGiving page will remain open until 1 January 2027: https://www.justgiving.com/page/mu150