Our congratulations go to Mary-Liz Walker JP DL, a member of our Cathedral parish community, who has recently been chosen by King Charles III as the next High Sheriff of Greater Manchester. The formal announcement was published by Buckingham Palace during the past few weeks.
Mary-Liz’s appointment was made personally by His Majesty the King in his right as Duke of Lancaster. At a private audience with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the King signified his assent to the appointment by using a metal bodkin to pierce a hole against the name appearing on each of three parchments for the Duchy Counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
The role of High Sheriff dates back some 1,300 years and is the oldest secular Royal appointment in British history and is mentioned in the Magna Carta. The Office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The origins of the Office date back to Saxon times, when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the king for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown.
The modern-day High Sheriff’s role is to represent the King’s interests in law and order in their county by supporting the Judiciary, crime prevention agencies, the emergency services and the voluntary sector.
Mary Liz has been a Cathedral chorister since 1995 and was appointed a Cathedral Parish Safeguarding Representative in 2018. Please keep Mary-Liz in your prayers as she prepares to undertake this important civic duty over the next twelve months. Congratulations Mary-Liz, we are all very proud of you.
