6 April 2023
In his first Maundy Thursday service as Monarch, His Majesty King Charles has presented Maundy Money to four recipients from churches in Chelmsford Diocese.
Margaret Milne, Christopher Owens, Ann Easter and Hugh Dibbens received their Maundy Money purses from the King at York Minster today.
The Royal Maundy Service dates back to 600AD and commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper.
During the service, His Majesty The King presented each recipient with two purses: one red and one white. The white purse contained a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins equivalent in value to the age of the Monarch. The red purse contained two commemorative coins, symbolising the Sovereign's historic gift of food and clothing. This year, one of the coins celebrated His Majesty’s forthcoming 75th birthday and the other commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Windrush Generation.
Recipients were selected from the Church of England dioceses across the country and Anglican and Ecumenical partners across the UK. The four recipients from Chelmsford DIocese are:
Mrs Margaret Milne
Margaret is from Epping and has faithfully served her church for over 50 years. She has served as churchwarden on multiple occassions, has served as Chair of Governors for the local school and is a member of the local hospital chaplaincy team.
The Revd Christopher Owens
Christopher has been a loyal and faithful servant of the church for over 50 years and since retirement from full time ministry, he has been busy with Chaplaincy to the Sea Cadets.
The Revd Canon Ann Easter
Ann is a Priest in East Ham. She has served as a minister in Chelmsford Diocese since 1980 when she was made a Deaconess and became a Self Supporting Minister in 1990. She has also been an adviser on refugees and asylum seekers, served as Chief Executive of the Renewal Programme and was appointed Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in 2007.
The Revd Canon Hugh Dibbens
Hugh has given faithful ministry for over 50 years and in retirement, remains very active in ministry especially in support of retired clergy.
Images from the service will follow.
ENDS
