Two people from Hereford Diocese have been nominated by the Bishop of Hereford to receive Royal Maundy Gifts from The Queen in recognition of their exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years
John Haycox from Bridgnorth and Brenda Allan from Bromyard will receive two ‘purses’ on Maundy Thursday.
Owing to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the service, which has previously taken place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, has been cancelled for the second year in a row. All recipients will receive their money through the post. The money is distributed by HM the Queen every Maundy Thursday.
This year 94 men and 94 women have been chosen from across England and Scotland – the precise number of recipients is equal to the monarch’s age.
The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Richard Jackson made the nominations. He said, “I was delighted to be able to nominate John and Brenda to be recognised by the Queen for their long-standing service to the people of Herefordshire and South Shropshire. They have each made an enormous personal contribution to the ministry of the Church and their local communities. It is disappointing that there is not a service again this year. However, it does not lessen the significance of the money for each recipient and I am deeply thankful for their ministry in this Diocese.”
Those awarded the Maundy money from Hereford Diocese were:
Mr John Haycox of Tuck Hill, South Shropshire
John is a local funeral director and builder who is still working at the age of 89. He has been associated with the parish of Tuck Hill in the Diocese of Hereford all his life and has been its churchwarden for 57 years. He left school at the age of fourteen to join the family business, which he inherited from his father on his death. He is known for his deep kindness and empathy not just in association with his business, but also in the manner in which he watches over the parish, in particular in his care for its elderly. He has never taken a holiday, and his life is service to others, not least founding on his deep and abiding faith in God. His humility is notable and sits alongside his quiet modesty. Successive clergy have found him to be a steadfast supporter and fount of practical pastoral wisdom, and he is deeply loved within his community and the surrounding area.
John said: “I was very humbled when I received the letter, I never expected to receive anything like this! I am honoured to be one of this year’s recipients.”
Mrs Brenda Allan, Bromyard, Herefordshire
Brenda has been a servant of the local church, deanery of Bromyard and Diocese of Hereford. She is someone who has worked hard to serve the interests of the wider community and not just her local parish and church. She has been a member of her Local Ministry Development Group in the Greater Whitbourne group of parishes serving in multiple roles and simply fitting in where needed without fuss. She has also been Deanery Lay Chair representing the lay members of the parishes in the Bromyard Deanery a role in which she was not afraid to be an advocate for both the deanery and for the laity. She brings wisdom to the Hereford Archdeaconry Mission & Pastoral committee where again she speaks up for the parishes and communities of the Diocese. Brenda has a quiet and unassuming faith, which sees serving the community as a calling and privilege.
Brenda said: “When I first heard about this, to say that I was amazed is something of an understatement. Receiving Maundy Money is something, which happens to other people. I am very honoured that the Bishop thinks me worthy of nomination.
I have enjoyed everything that I have done for the church, especially working with our partners in Tanzania, over the last twenty-five years. One meets such nice people and I hope to carry on for a few more years yet.”
The tradition of presenting alms on Maundy Thursday goes back to at least the 4th Century and in this country, the first record of the monarch doing it is in 1213. The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘Commandment’. It was on this Thursday, the day before he died, that Jesus gave his disciples what he described as a new commandment: ‘that you should love one another as I have loved you.’ This year the Maundy Thursday page on www.royal.uk will mark the occasion because the service itself cannot take place.