On Maundy Thursday (24 March), Manchester Cathedral clergy will continue the tradition of shining the shoes of the people of Manchester.
This quirky idea has a serious message aiming to emulate Jesus washing the feet of his followers 2000 years ago and the subsequent tradition of the clergy washing the feet of parishioners on the Thursday before Easter for centuries. The shoe-shine event is a modern twist on this tradition, and it is the seventh year that the event has taken place.
The Dean of Manchester, The Very Reverend Rogers Govender says “At the heart of our faith as Christians is God’s call to us to serve others with humility just as Jesus came to serve and not to be served. We remind ourselves of this call in a poignant way each Maundy Thursday when the Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. In our modern world we opt to shine people’s shoes on Maundy Thursday to remind ourselves of this call to humble service. Come and have your shoes shined at Manchester Arndale and at The Printworks”.
So if you’re shopping in Manchester Arndale this Thursday morning from 11am to 12 noon or in The Printworks from 12.15pm to 1.15pm, make sure you head over to our free shoe shine and allow the Cathedral clergy to polish your shoes!
