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Maundy Thursday at Durham Cathedral

Maundy Thursday is the day when Christians remember the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples before being betrayed and arrested.

This year Durham Cathedral is blessed to host the Royal Maundy Service, where The King and Queen distribute 'Maundy Money' to selected recipients, and this year, Durham Cathedral is blessed to host this special service. This is a special service taking place at 11am and is for ticketed guests only.

All are welcome to join the following Maundy Thursday services;

  • Morning Prayer, 8.30am - This service will take place at St Oswald's Church, Durham.
  • Holy Communion, 12.30pm - This service will take place at St Oswald's Church, Durham.
  • Evening Prayer, 5.30pm - This service will take place at Durham Cathedral.
  • Maundy Thursday: Stripping of the Altar and the Watch, 7.30pm - This service will take place at Durham Cathedral.

Royal Maundy Service

Royal Maundy takes place each year on the Thursday before Easter Day and is a special service in which The King expresses his gratitude for those who serve and volunteer in their communities. The service is rooted in the tradition of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in the Upper Room the night before his death and goes back to medieval times.

During the service, His Majesty will present 152 recipients, 76 men and 76 women (signifying the age of the Monarch), with specially-minted Maundy money to thank them for their outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities. These recipients have been selected from the Diocese of Durham and other dioceses across the Province of York and from Wales and Scotland.

Thursday 17 April, 11am. This service is for ticketed guests only.

Read more about the visit here

Maundy Thursday: Stripping of the Altar and the Watch

During this service, we commemorate Jesus instituting Eucharist during the Last Supper and remember his washing of his disciples' feet. We process down to the Galilee Chapel to reflect on his betrayal and arrest in Durham’s ancient 'Judas Cup Ceremony', before the altar is stripped and the cathedral is sent into darkness. This is followed by a Watch at the Altar of Repose, where we pray with Jesus in silence until 10.00pm.

This service will be preached by The Reverend Dr Kate Bruce, an RAF chaplain based at Brize Norton. Kate was previously a chaplain and Deputy Warden at St John's College Durham.

Thursday 17 April, 7.30pm. This service will take place in Durham Cathedral, all are welcome.

More on the Royal Maundy Service

Please note the Royal Maundy Service is for invited guests only. Members of the public are welcome to stand outside the cathedral to see the King and Queen. There will be (significant) restrictions to access and free movement in and around the City. See FAQ below.

Who is attending the Royal Maundy at Durham Cathedral on Thursday 17 April?

  • 152 recipients of Maundy Money who have already received a letter from Buckingham Palace inviting them to attend together with one guest each.
  • People who are participating in the service.
  • Representatives of the Diocese of Durham, Durham Cathedral and civic personnel

If you have been invited to attend the service and have any questions, please contact maundy@durhamcathedral.co.uk

Hear from this year's Maundy Money recipients

Recipients from across Durham, York, Wales and Scotland are preparing to attend the Royal Maundy service at Durham Cathedral on Thursday, 17 April. Read more about their nomination stories.

Find out more

Can members of the public stand outside and see The King and Queen arrive?

Yes members of the public are free to attend the wider event. However, there will be (significant) restrictions to access and free movement in and around the City.

Spectators are invited to gather on Palace Green and in Durham Market Place to get the best view of The King and Queen as their motorcade passes. If you want to watch from Palace Green, please be in position by 9.30am.

There will be restrictions in place to ensure safety. Access to Palace Green will be limited overnight while safety measures are put in place, with Windy Gap and Dun Cow Lane closed to pedestrians.

On the day of the visit, all roads leading into and out of the peninsula area of Durham will be closed to vehicles from 6am to 3pm. Spectators will not be allowed to gather on the narrow sections of Saddler Street and Owengate. Police, neighbourhood wardens, and volunteers will be present to assist spectators.

Volunteer flower arrangers at Durham Cathedral prepare colourful displays for The King and Queen

Long-standing volunteers are working with Floral Designer and Flower Farmer Deborah Simpson Boston to create spectacular flower arrangements to decorate Durham Cathedral for the Royal Maundy Service

Read more

Royal Maundy Service at York Minster 2023

Maundy Thursday at Durham Cathedral in pictures