Earlier today, King Charles III led the historic Maundy Thursday service at Durham Cathedral, continuing a centuries-old tradition of giving specially minted Maundy Money to local individuals in recognition of their extraordinary service to community and church.

This year, 76 men and 76 women – the same number as the King’s age – were honoured with red and white leather purses containing commemorative and symbolic coins. While the white purse includes Maundy pence equal in number to the monarch’s age, the red purse symbolises a traditional gift for food and clothing, and this year contains a £5 coin commemorating the Queen Mother and a 50p commemorating WWII.

The ceremony is one of the oldest royal rites in Britain, dating back to at least the 13th century and the reign of King John. In its earliest form, the monarch would wash the feet of the poor, echoing Jesus’s act of humility at the Last Supper. Today, the symbolic gesture continues with the presentation of Maundy Money to individuals who have served their communities with dedication and grace.

Among this year’s recipients:
• Anne Johnson, 83, from Hartlepool, was brought to tears by the honour. With over 50 years of community service, including fundraising to preserve St Mary Magdalene Church and training as a pastoral assistant, Anne now plans to open church land to the public for use as a community space.
• Jean Almond, 73, from Eccleston, St Helens, was selected despite facing immense physical challenges due to multiple sclerosis. Her husband Geoff received his Maundy Money in 2022, making them an exceptionally rare couple to have both been honoured. Jean’s journey to Durham Cathedral was not without difficulty, but her and Geoff’s gratitude for the recognition is deeply moving.

As King Charles expressed in his Easter message this week, the world still needs “faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.” Today’s Maundy recipients exemplify that sentiment through their acts of kindness, humility and faith.