In a tradition which can be traced back to the 13th century, the King and Queen recently visited Durham to present Maundy Money and two members of local churches were proud recipients.
Taking place annually on the Thursday before Easter, Royal Maundy is a special service in which the King expresses his gratitude for those who serve and volunteer in their local communities, and is rooted in the tradition of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet the night before his death.
During the service at Durham Cathedral, His Majesty presented 152 people, 76 men and 76 women (signifying the Monarch’s age), with specially-minted Maundy Money and two of this year’s recipients were Pauline Storey from St Paul’s Church and June Wilson from Whitworth Church who were recognised by The King for their Christian service.
Pauline and June have been faithful and dedicated members of the parishes for many years, with Pauline volunteering in roles including as Parochial Church Council secretary, in musical ministry and much more supporting the life and work of the parish.
In her wider community roles, Pauline continues to volunteer at the Spennymoor Settlement, a place which enables local people to express themselves creatively, and is also a member of the team at the Spennymoor Foodbank which operates out of the St Paul’s Centre.
As a former churchwarden at Whitworth Church, June has also served as a lay minister preaching and leading worship and is now the local leader of the Spennymoor branch of the Christian organisation, The Mothers’ Union, which works to support those in need across the region and around the world.
When June’s letter arrived from Buckingham Palace, her husband thought they had been invited to a Garden Party!
She said: “I was so shocked when I opened the letter and I thought this can’t be happening.
“When I met the King, he was such a lovely, down to earth man and he really made time for each of us and the whole day was just such a special experience which I’ll never forget.”
Pauline added: “It was totally unexpected and I was amazed that someone had recognised in me my Christian service to the church and in the community, to the extent that I was nominated to receive this honour – it really is very special.
“All the pomp and ceremony at the Cathedral was wonderful and the music during the service was out of this world.
“I was just taken up by the whole occasion and I felt part of a unique experience.”
Recipients were presented with two purses which included a set of specially-minted silver Maundy coins, along with a £5 coin commemorating The Queen Mother and a 50p coin featuring stories of WWII.
Royal Maundy is steeped in history with the first recorded Royal Distribution at Knaresborough by King John in 1210. Early into her reign, Queen Elizabeth II moved the ceremony out of London to ensure the gifts were given to local people in their communities.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
