The Royal Maundy: A Talk For Everyone
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Royal Maundy will be revealed next week in a special illustrated talk by a man who should know.
For Stephen Skellern, a member of Wakefield Cathedral’s congregation who works tirelessly for charity, found himself on the receiving end of Maundy Money when the Queen visited Wakefield Cathedral for the Royal Maundy in 2005.
And he will give an illustrated talk on this very subject at the next Mothers’ Union Meeting on Monday 11 May at 7pm in the Treacy Hall and all are welcome.
Every year at Easter Her Majesty presents special 'Maundy money' to the local elderly in a UK cathedral or Abbey – she was at Sheffield this Easter, Wakefield in 2005, Bradford Cathedral in 1997 and Ripon in 1985.
The presentation takes place on Maundy Thursday in recognition of the service of elderly people to their community and their church and since the fifteenth century, the number of Maundy coins handed out, and the number of people receiving the coins, has been related to the Sovereign’s age: for example, when The Queen was 60 years old, 60 women and 60 men would have received 60 pence-worth of Maundy coins.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the day of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The word 'Maundy' comes from the command or 'mandatum' by Christ at the Last Supper, to love one another.
The tradition of the Sovereign giving money to the poor dates from the thirteenth century. The Sovereign also used to give food and clothing, and even washed the recipients' feet. The last monarch to do so was James II.
The Royal Maundy: Treacy Hall, Wakefield Cathedral: Monday May 11
7pm. All welcome.