Image – Gordon Taylor
On Thursday 17 April, King Charles will be joined by Queen Camilla as he presents Maundy money to 152 recipients – 76 men and 76 women, reflecting the King’s age.
Each of the recipients has been selected to thank them for their Christian service and to celebrate their contribution to the local community.
Each recipient of Maundy money is given two small leather purses by The King, one red and one white. The first purse contains a small amount of ordinary coinage which symbolises the Sovereign’s gift for food and clothing whilst the second contains Maundy coins up to the value of the Sovereign’s age (which this year is 76p).
Tim’s nomination acknowledges almost three decades of working within the vestry team and serving the congregation of Hereford Cathedral.
Tim moved to Hereford to take up the role of Assistant Verger in 1996 and then served as Canons’ Verger before stepping up to the leadership role of Dean’s Verger in 2010. A verger’s role is a varied and essential one within the cathedral because, whilst their primary function is to assist the clergy in the conduct of public worship, they also clean and care for the building, extend a warm welcome to visitors and pilgrims, and support and deliver a variety of events amongst a whole host of other duties and responsibilities.
The Very Revd Sarah Brown, the Dean of Hereford, said:“Tim’s very well-deserved award is in recognition of his own long and distinguished service to the Church as an outstanding verger at this cathedral.
“This royal acknowledgement also celebrates the quiet and unassuming role of vergers up and down the country upon whom our cathedrals rely, each and every day.
“Tim is exceptional for the care and respect he has given for almost thirty years, not only to colleagues and the cathedral community but also to those who come through our doors in need, some of whom can be difficult to love and who present challenges that many of us would struggle to deal with.
“As a Christian both at work and beyond, Tim exemplifies modesty and care for others. I know how much quiet assistance he has given to friends and colleagues in difficulty and how beloved he is of our elderly almshouse residents for the unofficial care he takes of them.
“It is always a pleasure when a genuinely modest person is shown how highly other people think of them and I am sure that everyone at Hereford Cathedral will join me in congratulating Tim on this very special news.”
Tim Pryse-Davies, the Dean’s Verger, said: “I was very surprised when I first received the letter inviting me to attend the Royal Maundy service as it was so unexpected. As a verger, I’m more accustomed to being behind the scenes, so it will be strange, but enjoyable, to experience such a special service as a member of the congregation.
“It has been a privilege to serve the cathedral and its community over the last twenty-nine years. It really is a great honour to be recognised in this way and I am very much looking forward to attending the service.”
The Royal Maundy service will take place at Durham Cathedral on Thursday 17 April 2025.
