Commissioned by the Chapels Royal to make eight new Maundy Wands, we were excited as part of our Summer Reception to have a dedicated service in the Queen’s Chapel to bless the wands.
The Master Turner, Joey Richardson, along with Freeman Nick Farrow gave the address. It was a moving occasion, recognising the workmanship and skill of all those involved in the project, and the huge generosity of members who donated to make the creation of the new wands possible.
Thank you to Jon Simpson, Sergeant of the Vestry and Head Verger, who organised this wonderful service for us, and allowed us to celebrate afterwards in the beautiful Marlborough House Gardens.
Special thanks to our Master for putting the creative team together – Simon Hope, Mick Hanbury and of course herself!
Crafting a Royal Legacy: The Story Behind the Maundy Wands, by Joey Richardson, Master
Few woodturners ever have the privilege of creating objects that become part of Britain’s living history. I never imagined that my journey with wood would lead to such a remarkable connection with the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, a journey shaped by friendship, craftsmanship and shared passion.
The story began through Freeman Nick Farrow’s earlier Royal Warrant commission: the Processional Cross created and gifted to Queen Elizabeth II for her Platinum Jubilee. I had the privilege of turning and decorating the cross shaft.
Each year I return to the Chapel Royal to care for the Processional Cross. During one of those visits, a conversation began that none of us could have anticipated. The Chapel asked whether we could create eight new Maundy Wands. It was one of those rare moments when a simple conversation changes everything.
I was honoured to be entrusted with the commission and to bring together fellow members of the Worshipful Company of Turners, each contributing their own specialist skills and experience. It was a privilege to work alongside Simon Hope, Mick Hanbury and Nick Farrow, whose expertise made the project possible.
There could have been no more fitting timber. The wands were crafted from wind-felled Royal Sandringham oak from His Majesty The King’s estate, a tree whose life had ended naturally, yet whose story would continue in objects destined for royal service.
At the heart of the project was Freeman Simon Hope, whose extraordinary engineering and silversmithing transformed an ambitious idea into reality. Every concealed thread, every fitting, and every solid silver Maundy ship he engraved reflects craftsmanship of the very highest order. The elegance of the finished wands hide an extraordinary amount of engineering and the threaded construction allows each wand to be dismantled for safe transport.
Alongside Simon, Yeoman Mick Handbury and I turned and finished the oak elements, carefully shaping the timber and bringing out the beauty of the Royal Sandringham oak. We also had the pleasure of polishing the metal work under Simon’s watchful eye!
Simon also created the beautiful presentation box from the same Royal Sandringham oak, complete with exquisite dovetails, precision cut foam inserts, and a leather panel in the lid embossed in gold with the King’s cypher.
Watching the wands being blessed in the Queen’s Chapel was a moment none of us will ever forget. Surrounded by centuries of history, the pieces we had created with our own hands became part of the living tradition of the Chapel Royal. It was deeply moving to know that these wands would sit at the heart of royal tradition and be carried with honour for generations to come.
The story of the Sandringham oak does not end here. The surplus timber from the commission will now continue its journey in a SEND school, where young people will have the opportunity to learn, create and connect with a material that has already played a part in royal history.
The generosity of members of the Worshipful Company of Turners has made this possible, funding not only the creation of the wands, but also the commemorative books and a new display cabinet for the Chapel Royal, ensuring that this story will be preserved for generations. Every donor’s name will be recorded in those books as a lasting thank you. I am deeply grateful to every member whose generosity has helped make this legacy possible.
My heartfelt thanks also go to everyone involved in this remarkable project; to Nick Farrow , Simon Hope and Mick Handbury, and to the Chapel Royal for making the blessing ceremony such a memorable and moving occasion.
T
To transform Royal Sandringham oak into objects that will serve the Chapel Royal for generations has been an extraordinary honour. This project represents everything that makes our Company and our craft special: skill, tradition, friendship, heritage and legacy.
To have helped create that legacy with fellow turners has been one of the greatest privileges of my career and one I will treasure for the rest of my life.
Joey Richardson
Master
