Greater Manchester bishops and clergy to shine shoes on Maundy Thursday

Date published: 30 March 2010

Church of England Bishops and over 60 clergy from across Greater Manchester are to shine shoes in the streets of Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Manchester on Maundy Thursday (1 April, 2010). The event is a modern twist on the tradition of Christian clergy washing feet on Maundy Thursday.

Nearly 2000 years ago Jesus, on the night before he was crucified, hosted what would be his last supper. Before they ate their meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, an unclean task normally reserved for servants. By washing the feet of his followers Jesus demonstrated to them that his followers were to serve, bring healing and live humbly. This was his ‘new commandment’ or Maundy, hence Maundy Thursday.

For the past 2000 years clergy, on the night before Good Friday (the day when Jesus was crucified), re-enact that last supper and wash the feet of their parishioners. This shoes shine event is designed to take this message into the streets in a contemporary way’.

The Bishop of Bolton said, “‘As was the case last year, it will be a very humbling and moving experience to meet the people of Bolton in this way. The shoe-shine is a demonstration that those who follow Jesus are expected to roll up their sleeves, relate to and serve people.

“It is an irony that we will be doing this on April Fools Day. When Jesus did acts of charity, like washing the feet of his friends, it stopped people in their tracks-was he serious or just playing a trick. He was serious-the son of God was called to serve and so clergy are called to serve their parishioners and this symbolic act is one way of demonstrating this. To serve is a command given to us by Jesus.”