Diocese of Chichester

After four years as Mothers’ Union president for Chichester Diocese, Kathryn Anderson has stepped down to take up her new role as Mothers’ Union Provincial President for Canterbury Province for 2020-1.

A former trained nurse and primary school teacher, and with three young children, she joined Mothers’ Union following in the footsteps of her own mother and grandmother.

In 2013 she became the new Branch Leader at Old Town, at St Mary’s Church, Eastbourne. It was one of the largest Branches in the Diocese with over 80 members. She went on to lead on a number of projects as well as taking on the role as Project Co-ordinator at the Eastbourne Family Centre.

At the beginning of 2015, former Mothers’ Union Diocesan President, (DP) Chris Emerson, asked Kathryn to consider becoming the next DP.

“In my quiet times I had confirmation that I was being called to take on this huge privilege and challenge and that God would provide all the resources I needed to do all He was going to be asking of me.” Said Kathryn.

She has endured her own challenges over the years, not least of all, coping with a divorce, her teenage daughters cancer, a son facing a prison term and the death of her father. She said: “My faith in God has been tried and tested on my life journey.

“Looking back over my life, God has been guiding me on my journey of preparation to become a Leader. I have been blessed with great parents and an amazingly supportive husband. I have thoroughly enjoyed being Diocesan President for Chichester Diocese and am so grateful to the loyal and prayerful support of the Trustees and members and trust that God will continue to work through the new DP.

“After 4 years as Diocesan President it is a privilege to have been nominated Provincial President for Canterbury Province for 2020-1. I know God is continuing to guide and equip me. I look forward to the challenges and the joys of being Provincial President.

“I am mindful of this quote from Proverbs 16 verse 3: ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.'

Kathryn took over from Nikki Sweatman who retired on health grounds.

Karen Hill has taken up the role of Chichester Diocesan President. We will hear more from Karen in the next issue of Faith in Sussex.

Mary Sumner’s Prayer:

‘All this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for thee; and every life I touch, do thou by thy spirit quicken, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. Amen’.