Queen To Visit South Yorkshire For Royal Maundy Service

Buckingham Palace has confirmed Her Majesty The Queen will visit South Yorkshire to hold the Royal Maundy service It will be held at Sheffield Cathedral on 2nd April - the service will honour unsung heroes from across South Yorkshire.

The Queen will be accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. In over 900 years, this will be the first time that this State Occasion has taken place in South Yorkshire.

The Queen will be welcomed to the city’s Church of England cathedral by a congregation of over 1,000 representatives from churches in South Yorkshire and organisations from the whole County. The Queen will personally distribute a gift of Maundy Money to 178 individuals over the age of 70 in recognition of their service to the church and community.

The money is specially struck by the Royal Mint for this service, and includes 3 pence pieces—which are legal tender! The 178 recipients have been nominated by churches from across South Yorkshire, and each is invited to attend the Cathedral with a guest. All of them have been chosen because of their service of church and community.

The 2 April 2015 will be especially significant for Sheffield Cathedral and the Diocese of Sheffield, as they have been celebrating the centenary of becoming a Cathedral and a Diocese. The Cathedral has also recently completed extensive refurbishment works to renew the interior, and create a brighter, more welcoming, building.

The Dean of Sheffield, the Very Reverend Peter Bradley, is delighted to be welcoming Her Majesty to South Yorkshire on this important State Occasion. He said today:

“This is a historic moment for us in the life of South Yorkshire and the city of Sheffield. We are deeply honoured to be chosen to host the Royal Maundy Service on behalf of our nation. This service is a special opportunity to recognise individuals who have worked to make a positive contribution to the community. I have been moved to learn of the many unsung heroes in South Yorkshire who give their time and effort for the good of others’’.

The Bishop of Sheffield, the Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft said:

"It will be a real delight and honour to welcome Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Cathedral, to the city and to South Yorkshire. The Royal Maundy service is a way of honouring some of the many older people who have given significant service to their communities over many years, often in hidden ways."