We have received news that Mrs Frances Catt has been nominated as a recipient of Maundy Money for the Diocese of Chichester for having given long service to the church and local community at East Guldeford and Camber.
The tradition of Maundy Thursday has its roots in the symbol of Christ washing the disciples’ feet, a practice adopted by Christian monarchs since the 13th century as a sign of royal humility, often in conjunction with the giving of alms in the form of food and drink (dole) to the poor.
It takes place on the Thursday immediately before Good Friday and three days before Easter Day, which falls this year on Sunday April 1. In 1685 James II is said to have been the last British monarch to have personally performed this service of foot-washing. Later, symbolic coins were given each year at a service in Westminster Abbey, until our present Queen’s practice of visiting a different cathedral every year. This year, the service will take place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Photo: library image