Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will visit the Bishop of Sheffield this week for the Maundy Thursday service (02.04.15).
According to the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, the 88-year-old monarch is set to arrive at the city’s cathedral where she will hand out Maundy money to 89 men and 89 women.
Maundy Thursday was first celebrated in England in the 12th century to mark Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.
Today it serves to recognise the work of deserving senior citizens in the community.
Bishop Croft is thrilled to be welcoming Queen Elizabeth to the cathedral and stressed the amount of work that had gone into preparing for the royal’s visit.
He told BBC News: "[It has been a] huge amount of work for several months – in secret.
"There’s a real sense of anticipation now, and joy that this is happening in Sheffield this year.
"It’s a profound Christian reflection of the command to love one another, at the heart of the city.
"Sheffield Cathedral will become a Chapel Royal for the day, and platters from the Crown Jewels will be brought to carry the Maundy Money."
To date the royal Maundy Thursday service has been held in almost every cathedral throughout England and is occasionally put on in Wales and Scotland.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth to visit the Bishop of Sheffield
