HER MAJESTY Queen Camilla will be visiting the Faithful City later this month as the annual Royal Maundy Service comes to Worcester for the first time in over 40 years.
The Queen will be presenting ceremonial coins to 39 people from across the Diocese of Worcester on Thursday, March 28.
These will be among the 150 handed out to people across the country on behalf of King Charles III.
The gift is presented in recognition of their exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years.
The tradition of presenting alms on Maundy Thursday goes back to at least the 4th Century and the first record of The Monarch doing it is in 1213.
The service visits a different cathedral each year and it was last held in Worcester in 1980.
The number of men and women receiving the Maundy Money is 75-equivalent to the Monarch’s age.
For the service, Worcester Cathedral will become a ‘Chapel Royal’ with the Chapel Royal Choir singing alongside the Cathedral choir.
The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘Commandment’.
It was on this Thursday, the day before he died at the cross, that Jesus gave his disciples what he described as a new commandment:- ‘that you should love one another as I have loved you.’
As Lord High Almoner, Bishop John Inge will accompany Queen Camilla as she presents the gifts.
He said: “It is an honour to be able to welcome HM The Queen to Worcester.
“This is an immensely special service and I know it will mean a huge amount to those who have been chosen to receive the coins, all of whom will have given years of service to their local communities.”
Worcester Cathedral’s Interim Dean, Canon Stephen Edwards, added: “We are delighted that Worcester has been chosen as the location for this year’s Royal Maundy service. We will be pulling out all the stops to create a special occasion for all the recipients.”
