The King and Queen attended the spectacular Royal Maundy service in Durham Cathedral today – the first to be organised by the Bishop of Norwich in his role as Lord High Almoner.
King Charles gave specially-minted silver coins to 152 church volunteers at the service which takes place on the Thursday before Easter every year.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher said: “It was a glorious service. The King greeted each of the 152 recipients very warmly and personally, thanking them for their Christian service. Many were very emotional and said they were praying for him, or thanked him for his service.”
Centuries ago monarchs washed the feet of people chosen to receive Maundy ‘alms’ and the Lord High Almoner and his assistants still wear linen towels for the service.
The King presented leather purses of Maundy Money to 76 men and 76 women – a man and a woman for each year of his age.
The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning commandment and the service is rooted in the story of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and commanded them to love one another, before sharing bread and wine with them.
The Royal Maundy service was attended by representatives of the cathedral, city and university of Durham, and of world faiths.
It is one of the oldest royal ceremonies and before Bishop Graham began the service with the words: “I give to you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you are to love one another,” he told the recipients: “Each of you is inspiring in what you have given – treasures in the store of God’s Church. Thank you for your witness.”
The King gave all of them a pair of purses, one of red leather and the other of white, made from leather from the deer of Windsor Great Park. They contained the specially-minted silver coins of the Maundy Money, and the coins to the value of the food and clothing given in medieval times, as a £5 piece commemorating The Late Queen Mother, and a 50p coin featuring Stories of World War II.
Pictures: Durham Cathedral
