Almoner
|
|
Almoner (from Latin Almosunartius) is a chaplain or church officer who was in charge of distributing charity.
Historically almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income to give charity to the poor and bishops kept their own almoners. Almoners were attached to the courts to the kings of France and Charles VIII had a Grand Almoner in his employ. One of the most prominent such offices still extant is that of the Lord High Almoner in the United Kingdom. The High Almoner (currently Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester) is responsible for organising the Queen's annual distribution of Maundy money on Maundy Thursday.
The name almoner was also used for a hospital official who interviewed prospective patients, and was later applied to the officials who were responsible for patient welfare and after care. This position is now usually filled by social workers, and the term almoner is rarely used.