Well, the title of this blog rather gives it away! Yes, today 16th June was the foundation day of the Women’s Institute back in 1915.
Its two aims were to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. The first meeting was held in Anglesey but by 1918, 137 WIs had opened.
Why Jam and Jerusalem? ‘Jerusalem’ was part of a much longer poem by William Blake but in 1916, Hubert Parry wrote the music for it, making it one of the most famous hymns around, almost an alternative national anthem for England. It is sung at the opening of each WI meeting. Jam? The WI’s fondness for making it – plus the association with food production from WW1.
But, it is now the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK
Its two aims were to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. The first meeting was held in Anglesey but by 1918, 137 WIs had opened.
Why Jam and Jerusalem? ‘Jerusalem’ was part of a much longer poem by William Blake but in 1916, Hubert Parry wrote the music for it, making it one of the most famous hymns around, almost an alternative national anthem for England. It is sung at the opening of each WI meeting. Jam? The WI’s fondness for making it – plus the association with food production from WW1.
But, it is now the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK