What is Maundy Thursday?

Maundy Thursday is the fifth day of Holy Week – the final week of Lent, which begins on Palm Sunday and runs up until Easter.

It gets its name from the Latin word ‘mandare’, from which we get the word ‘command’. Christians remember Jesus’s command: “Love one another as I have loved you.”  On this day Christians remember Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples before his death on Good Friday. We have a service of Holy Communion in church at 7pm to do this. As part of the service we also strip the altar as we remember that Jesus left the supper and went to Gethsemane where he prayed before he was arrested.

 At the Last Supper Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service.  Some churches recreate this act of service at special services on Maundy Thursday. Foot washing is a reminder of how Jesus served others and of the kind of service we as Christians are meant to demonstrate to others.  

Every year the Sovereign distributes silver coins at a special service on Maundy Thursday. It is part of a tradition dating back to the 13th Century when the Royal Family took part in ceremonies washing the feet of poor people and giving money and gifts.

The Maundy Money ceremony itself began in 1662, when Charles II gave out coins. This year will be the first year King Charles III gives out Maundy Money as King.