almonry

Almonry is a historical term referring to the office, building, or organization dedicated to the administration and distribution of alms to the poor. The people who carried out this duty were called almoners. The word combines the concept of alms with the English suffix -ry, which denotes a place or office.

Historically, almonries were common in monasteries, churches, and later royal or civic institutions across Europe. The almoner was responsible for collecting, storing, and dispensing charitable aid to those in need, including travelers, the elderly, and the sick. In many cases the almonry also managed records of recipients and funds, and it sometimes supervised related charitable activities such as hospitality or provisioning.

In the United Kingdom, the title Royal Almoner denotes an official in the royal household charged with charitable duties. The role has traditionally involved oversight of royal almsgiving and ceremonies such as the Maundy Thursday distribution of money to the poor, though the exact duties and appointments have varied over time. In modern usage, the Royal Almoner is often a bishop, typically associated with the Diocese of London, but the office is not uniformly defined in all periods or jurisdictions.

Beyond royal or ecclesiastical contexts, the term almonry can also refer more generally to a historical or symbolic space devoted to charity within a church or monastery. While the specific functions have changed over the centuries, almonries remain a record of the longstanding social and religious emphasis on almsgiving as a form of communal support.