Maundy money from King to honour Fife man’s outstanding Christian service
A Fife man has been thanked by the King for his outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in his local community.
Christopher Hill will be presented by King Charles with symbolic silver coins as part of the annual Royal Maundy service at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales.
Christopher will be gifted two purses each - one red and one white.
In the white purse will be a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins totalling 77 pennies, to match The King’s age, and in the red purse will be a £5 coin commemorating 100 years since the late HM Queen Elizabeth’s birth, and a 50p coin that celebrates the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust.
Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter, an historic occasion dating back around 800 years which symbolises humility, care, kindness and appreciation of others.
It commemorates the Last Supper and the Maundy, which comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means command or commandment, taking its meaning from Jesus Christ’s instruction that his followers should love one another, ‘as I have loved you’.
The distribution of alms and the washing of the feet on the Thursday of Holy Week are an ancient tradition.
Christopher, a member of the recently united Balmerino, Creich, Flisk, Kilmany and Wormit Church, was nominated by Very Rev Professor David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal, who said receiving the King's Maundy gift is a moment of celebration and thanksgiving, a reminder of the strength of the local church and the dedication of the "whole people of God to its work".
Christopher is a former meteorologist with the Royal Air Force (RAF). He served as the session clerk at Balmerino Church for many years before the parish joined the union and was the chief organiser/manager of the church and hall during a long period when the congregation was without a full-time minister, including the challenging COVID-19 pandemic era.
Christopher said: “It was such a surprise to receive a letter from Buckingham Palace with an invitation to receive Maundy money from the Monarch and I feel privileged to be chosen as a recipient of this award. It is very humbling to be honoured in this way.”
Christopher was an active member of negotiation groups, considering and implementing the union of local rural churches and volunteered at Gauldry Thursday Cafe, a place where locals can have lunch and spend time with one another.
The first Maundy Money giving ceremony dates back to 1662.
King Charles was accompanied at the service by Queen Camilla and presented the Royal Maundy gifts to approximately 77 men and 77 women, mostly from Wales.
Professor Fergusson, who leads a team of Royal Chaplains, said: "Although it is an Anglican event, people from across churches in the UK, including Scotland, will be honoured.
“This year's service at St Asaph Cathedral will naturally have a strong Welsh representation.
"These recipients have served their churches and communities in unheralded but important ways over many years.
"They remind us of the strength of the local church and the dedication of the whole people of God to its work.”
This is the first time the Royal Maundy service has been held in North Wales, and only the second time ever in the country, in the 800-year history of Maundy.
It will feature specially commissioned music by Welsh composers and musicians and see the use of the processional Cross of Wales, a gift from King Charles to the Christians of Wales.