Lancashire lass given Maundy Money from His Majesty The King

Clitheroe leader recognised by The King in Maundy money honour

A Lancashire lady, who has dedicated over two decades of her life to supporting members of the Clitheroe community has been honoured by His Majesty the King in the annual presentation of Maundy Money. 

Elizabeth Smith, 84, leader of The Salvation Army in Clitheroe, was among the 152 recipients who met with King Charles III at the annual Royal Maundy ceremony in Durham Cathedral where the Monarch distributes purses of special coins to a selected number of men and women aged 70 or over to mark their many years of Christian service to their community. 

One of only six older people from Lancashire, Captain Elizabeth received gratitude from the King for serving the Clitheroe community, which she has done for over two decades since becoming church leader of The Salvation Army in Clitheroe in 2003 and is still serving the community today as a retired officer of the church and charity.

Captain Elizabeth said: “This accolade was so unexpected, and meeting His Majesty was such an emotional experience, I remember him looking into my eyes and saying ‘you do wonderful work’, which was lovely to hear but I don’t see it as work, I see it as my calling. It is a pleasure to serve the Clitheroe community and change the lives of people who need a helping hand.

“The Ribble Valley is perceived as an affluent area but there are pockets of poverty everywhere and people living within our community are really struggling, whether that be with food, rising household bills or companionship; I’m just getting on with the job, doing what I love and serving the community in which I live. I love doing what I do, and I love the people I support, and I intend to continue serving the Clitheroe and wider Lancashire community for many years to come; I might look it but I certainly don’t feel 84 and have years left in me!”

Captain Elizabeth has served as a Salvation Army officer for many years after kneeling at the mercy seat 68 years ago when she was just 16 years old and hearing a voice say ‘you will now give your whole life to me’. Captain Elizabeth served all over the Territory, from Stratford-upon-Avon to Millon in the Lake District with her husband of forty years, eventually retiring when he did, spending eight happy years in retirement until he was Promoted to Glory. Greif stricken and with an urge to do more, Captain Elizabeth came out of retirement eighteen months later taking up the church leader role at The Salvation Army Clitheroe where she still serves today.

Alongside Captain Elizabeth The Salvation Army in Clitheroe is also led by Salvation Army officer Brenda Wise and with the support of an army of volunteers, the duo provides regular services to the community from the church and community centre on Lowergate, Clitheroe, including a weekly lunch club, a charity shop which is open six days a week, Monday – Saturday, and a disability-friendly music group.

The corps moved buildings in 2020 after purchasing the former courthouse in Clitheroe, which operated as a job centre for the town until 2016 with Elizabeth and Brenda playing a pinnacle part in the plans and overseeing the work. The building underwent an extensive refurbishment programme of the two-storey building in 2019 allowing the corps to serve the town in modern premises featuring a kitchen, community room, café, charity shop, meeting rooms and a worship hall. The Salvation Army continues to serve the traditional market town of Clitheroe since opening its first expression over 136 years ago in January 1889. 

The Royal Maundy service is a traditional ceremony dating back over eight centuries in 1210 and the number of people chosen always matches the age of the Monarch, this year there were 76 men and 76 women presented with a red purse coin and a white purse coin with £5.50 in one and Maundy coins silver pennies, twopences, threepences and fourpences up to the age of the current Sovereign with Maundy coins being legal tender.