Local Resident receives Royal Maundy

Local resident, Peter Ellis, and wife Vicky last Thursday (Maundy Thursday) had the privilege and honour to attend the Royal Maundy Service and ceremony at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and receive the Maundy Purse(s) from her Majesty the Queen.

The Royal Maundy

The distribution of alms and the washing of feet to the poor on the Thursday of Holy Week can be traced back in England to the Thirteenth century and the reign of King Edward 1. The first recorded Royal Distribution was at Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, by King John in 1210.

It commemorates for Christians, the Maundy and Last Supper of jesus Christ. The Service derives its name from the Latin word "mandatum", meaning a commandment, and its opening words are "Jesus said I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you".

The number of recipients has been related to the years of the Sovereign's life, from the fifteenth century. Today recipients are now pensioners selected because of the Christian Service they have rendered to the Church and the Community The distribution is in two parts and the gifts which are handed to the recipients are symbolic.

The red purse contains a nominal allowance for clothing and provisions, formerly given in kind and a payment for the redemption of the royal gown. The White purse contains in Maundy coins silver pennies,twopences, threepences, and fourpences as many pence as the Sovereign has years of age. Maundy Coins are legal tender.

The Children of the Almonry and the Lord High Almoner and his assistants are still girded with linen and nosegays of sweet herbs and flowers from when the washing of feet used to take place!

Peter and Vicky's invitation

Peter coincidentally received his invitation to the Maundy Distribution from the Queen and the Bishop of Chester, both on the same day – his 80th Birthday. Amusingly Vicky was invited as his 'carer'.

Peter has been a longstanding member of the Anglican Church since he was first baptised in Eaglescliffe, County Durham and attended Sunday School. He was a member of the Lifeboys, cubs and scouts, which were very much associated with the Church.

He was a member of the Church Council when he was 19 years old and subsequently became Chairman. He was very much involved in the Scouts becoming a Scout Leader and eventually District Commissioner. Peter has been a leading member of Audlem St. James for many years.

The invitation requested their attendance at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle at 9.30am on Thursday and faced extremely tight security.They were seated in numbered rows and three processions took place, namely:

• The College of St George and Chapel Royal procession.
• The Queen's procession ( after receiving a symbolic nosegay).
• The Royal Almonry Procession
• following which the Service took place and the distribution of the purses by the Queen.

The Red Leather purse contained a specially minted silver £5 coin and a 50pence silver coin with the date of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. The £5 represented £3 for clothing, £1.5 for provisions and £1 for the redemption of the Sovereign gown, which before the Tudors was divided between the recipients.

The White Leather purse consisted of unique specially minted Maundy coins of 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p values, in total 90p representing the Sovereign's age.

The service was followed by a reception in the St. Georges Hall of Windsor Castle, where recipients were treated to canapes and refreshments and the opportunity to converse with others who had attended the ceremony. This was also an opportunity to view the Hall after its restoration.

A great honour and a wonderful uniquely English tradition for Peter and Vicky.

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