Shiny shoes served up in Oxford and Reading

The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, could be found on his knees in Reading on Maundy Thursday as he offered to shine the shoes of shoppers.

He was joined by Canon Brian Shenton and the Revd Chris Russell from the churches of St Mary and St Laurence, Reading.  Chris said: ‘Christianity is all about following someone who showed he cared with his hands. In these times when people accuse the church of being all talk, or always wanting something, it will be a good thing just to do something for free.’

In Oxford, too, shiny shoes were the order of the day on Maundy Thursday when the Revd Hugh Lee, City Rector, and clergy colleagues set up shop at various points in the city centre, offering a free shoe-shine to passers-by. He told the DOOR: ‘Cleaning folks’ shoes is a modern equivalent of washing their feet, so we are acting out our commitment to serve others.’

The venture went so well that it may become an annual fixture for the church, says a spokesman.