The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 16, April 16, 2006, Article 6

QUEEN DISTRIBUTES MAUNDY COINS

David Sundman forwarded this story about Great Britain's annual
Maundy Money ceremony:

"The Queen has distributed Maundy Money to 160 pensioners in a
service ahead of her 80th birthday next week. She gave 80 men
and 80 women two purses each at the ceremony at Guildford Cathedral,
which she attended with the Duke of Edinburgh.

The purses contain 80p in Maundy coins and a £5 coin both of
which mark the Queen's forthcoming 80th birthday."

"One of the purses presented by the Queen also contains a 50p
coin marking 150 years of the Victoria Cross. All the coins are
newly minted this year."

"The Maundy service dates back centuries. Until the 18th Century
the monarch would also wash the feet of the poor selected to
receive the coins.

In modern times the monarch has distributed the money without
washing the recipients' feet."

"Canterbury Cathedral spokesman Christopher Robinson said the
feet washing ceremony at the cathedral was re-instated in 2003
after a 400-year absence."

To read the complete story, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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