Church celebrates Mary Wollstonecraft – ‘mother of feminism’

The Unitarian congregation, which, in a bold banner on its front railings, calls itself “The Birthplace of Feminism,” will host an extensive series of events over the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May to honour Wollstonecraft’s birthday.

Friday 24 April 
A lecture by Barbara Taylor, author of Mary Wollstonecraft and the Feminist Imagination.

Saturday 25 April
Three prominent women politicians, MPs Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry and London’s MEP, Jean Lambert address the topic: “Political Power for Women: How Far Have We Come? Why Does It Matter?”. With award-winning journalist Suzanne Moore as moderator.

Sunday 26 April
A ceremony at Mary Wollstonecraft’s tombstone and the “Mother of Feminism Art Exhibition” round out the programme.

Saturday 2 May
A benefit concert featuring Carol Grimes and Adey Grummet.

Wollstonecraft, radical feminist pioneer and philosopher was author of the classic 1792 text “Vindication of the Rights of Woman.”

Wollstonecraft lived a highly unorthodox life, which included two affairs and a child born out of wedlock. In the past century, she has been embraced by human rights advocates and recognised as a founder of the movement toward equal rights for women. Wollstonecraft has been called “The Mother of Feminism.”

The pew where Mary Wollstonecraft worshipped – number 19 – has now become something of a pilgrimage destination for feminists and other admirers of the pioneering author, whose daughter Mary Shelley was the author of the Romantic novel ‘Frankenstein’.

Congregational leader Guy Bentham says: “There is something very special about pew 19. It’s not just the history, but a sort of feeling that it has about it. We’ve had groups of people pack themselves in there just to be in that very liberating presence.”

Although she remains a feminist icon, Wollstonecraft’s writings made a strong case for human rights in general and her inspiration has made itself felt well beyond the arena of women’s rights.

In 2008, the Newington Green Unitarian church and its sister church in Islington took a unique step in support of same-sex marriage rights: they became the only church in the UK to refuse to perform legal weddings for any couple until they could do the same for all couples.

The congregation’s minister, Andrew Pakula, feels sure that Wollstonecraft’s spirit was involved: “I have never seen a group of people act so rapidly and decisively in support of human rights.

“Once they learned the details of the 2004 Civil Partnership Act, they recognised the injustice of its ban on associating religion and civil partnerships, and moved ahead confidently without ever looking back.

“I’m not a believer in life after death, but I’m sure that somehow Mary had a hand in how this turned out.”

Details of the events are listed on the congregation’s web site at www.new-unity.org

All profits of these events will be donated to Stop The Traffik, to support their efforts in fighting the modern-day trafficking of women.