“The King wants to give you some money.” That was how Gerard Chrispen discovered that he was to be one of the 148 recipients of the Royal Maundy from King Charles at York Minister this year.
It was a message from the Bishop of Guildford’s office, who had been asked to seek potential recipients for the Royal Maundy.“I’m a Yorkshire man with short arms and long pockets, so yes,” was Gerard’s response.
Every Maundy Thursday the monarch distributes gifts according to the number of years he has lived. At this, his first Maundy service, King Charles distributed purses of specially minted Maundy coins totalling 74p to 74 men and 74 women in recognition for their contribution to community and to the church.
The service dates back to 600AD. In 1572 at Greenwich Queen Elizabeth I gave away cloth, salmon, herrings, bread and claret. It was tradition for female sovereigns to also give away their gown. But Elizabeth gave money in lieu of her gown to prevent people fighting over it.
Gerard, a former senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS and Baptist who attends Grace church, Guildford has been involved in Christian ministry in prisons for about 25 years. With his wife Phillippa he is a volunteer Free Church Chaplain at HMP Coldingley and works at other prisons with the charity, Christian Prison Resourcing. “The important thing is to know Jesus Christ as your Savour and Lord,” says Gerard, “And as a former lawyer I’m convinced the evidence is there, as well as the blessing from faith.”
Also in the congregation at York Minister was Pam Sales.
For over 50 years Pam’s shown an unfailing commitment to young people’s welfare and been a continual friend to the vulnerable in New Haw. “At the beginning of February, I was intrigued by an envelope in the post with the Royal Crest and a Buckingham Palace postmark,” she says. It was her invitation to the ceremony.
For security reasons everyone has to be in their seat in the Minister almost two hours before the service begins.
Pam sat close to a biker who had a variety of piercings in his nose and ears as well as several tattoos. His leather jacket was covered in a collection of badges, patches and medals.
He was an ordained Christian Minister serving the bikers’ community. A military veteran, he’d served in the Falklands and Croatia.
“You can’t judge what’s on the inside when you look at the outside,” he told Pam.
“Naturally the media wanted lots of photos of him, so I actually saw myself on the television news later in the day,” says Pam.
(Picture of Pam recieving her money from King Charles)
Gerard also appeared on the BBC’s national news receiving his purses from King Charles.
Both recipients were delighted to meet the new King. “He was very warm,” says Gerard. “When he gave you the Maundy money, he got hold of your hand with both hands, got up close and looked you in the eyes saying, ‘thank you and very well done’.”