FIRST Maundy Alms - Knaresborough, UK - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

THE FIRST MAUNDY ALMS

THE FIRST RECORDED DISTRIBUTION OF MAUNDY ALMS TOOK PLACE AT KNARESBOROUGH CASTLE IN 1210 WHEN KING JOHN DISTRIBUTED CLOTHING FOOD AND OTHER GIFTS TO THE POOR OF THE TOWN. HE INTRODUCED COINS IN ADDITION TO ALMS IN 1213 AND KING EDWARD I MADE IT AN ANNUAL EVENT AT EASTER.
KING EDWARD III DIRECTED THAT THE NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS SHOULD EQUAL THE SOVEREIGN'S AGE.

THE MAUNDY SERVICE, NORMALLY HELD AT A DIFFERENT PROVINCIAL CATHEDRAL EACH YEAR ON THE DAY BEFORE GOOD FRIDAY, CELEBRATES CHRIST WASHING THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES. THE WASHING OF FEET BY THE SOVEREIGN WHICH HAD ACCOMPANIED THE GIVING OF ALMS WAS DISCONTINUED BY KING JAMES II. THE SERVICE INCLUDES THE PRESENTATION BY THE SOVEREIGN OF ALMS NOW IN THE FORM OF SPECIALLY MINTED MAUNDY MONEY. THE RECIPIENTS OF ALMS ARE RETIRED PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN SERVICE TO THE CHURCH OR COMMUNITY WHERE THE SERVICE IS HELD.

SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF KNARESBOROUGH

NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

WITH FUNDING FROM KNARESBOROUGH COUNCIL

THE GEORGE A. MOORE FOUNDATION

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