The Royal Almonry is a small office within the

Royal Households of the United Kingdom The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the collective departments that support members of the British royal family. Many members of the royal family who undertake public duties have separate households. They vary considerably in size, ...

, headed by the Lord High Almoner, an office dating from 1103. The

almoner An almoner (} ' (alms), via the popular Latin '. History Christians have historically been encouraged to donate one-tenth of their income as a tithe to their church and additional offerings as needed for the poor. The first deacons, mentioned ...

is responsible for distributing

alms Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is often considered an act of virtue or charity. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving, and it is a widespread practice in a numbe ...

to the poor. The Lord High Almoner is usually a diocesan bishop or high cleric of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Brit ...

. The current holder of the office is the

Bishop of Worcester A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

, the Right Reverend

John Inge John Geoffrey Inge ( ; born 26 February 1955) is a bishop in the Church of England. He is currently the Bishop of Worcester in the Diocese of Worcester. From 2003 to 2007, he was Bishop of Huntingdon, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Ely. ...

. There is also an hereditary Grand Almoner, an office dating from 1685 and vested in the person of the Marquess of Exeter, but this is not an office of the Royal Almonry and he has no role to play. The actual work of the office is undertaken by the Sub-Almoner (currently Paul Wright), who is also the

Deputy Clerk of the Closet The Deputy Clerk of the Closet is the Domestic Chaplain to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The office was created in 1677. Since 1931, the Deputy Clerk is also the sub-dean of the Chapel Royal (under the Clerk of the Closet). The Deputy Cle ...

of the Ecclesiastical Household, Sub-dean of the

Chapel Royal The Chapel Royal is an establishment in the Royal Household serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the British Royal Family. Historically it was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarch. The term is now also appl ...

, and Domestic Chaplain at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

. There are in addition a Secretary, and Assistant Secretary, both offices of which are shared with other Royal Household appointments. There are also half a dozen wandsmen. The Almonry is responsible to the Keeper of the Privy Purse for the arrangements for the annual Maundy service.

Lord High Almoners

;Henry III (1216) * John Leukenor, Knight Templar *1233: Brother John and Brother Geoffrey (to 1239) *1255–''unknown'': Simon of Offam *1256–''unknown'': John of Colchester *1257: John the Chaplain ;Edward I (1272) * Friar Ralph *c.1280–1307: Master Henry of Blunsdon ;Edward II (1307) * c.1323: Adam de Brome ;Edward III (1327) * c.1340: Philip Weston * Thomas Hatfield (

Bishop of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in the Province of York. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. Paul Butler has been the Bishop of Durham ...

, 1345) ;Richard II (1377) * 1383: William Walsham ;Henry IV (1399) *1399: Robert Eslakby *? –1413 Earl of Cambridge ;Henry V (1413) * 1413–''unknown'': James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley ; Henry VI (1422) * 142n–''unknown'': John Snell * ?–1432: John De la Bere (later Bishop of St David's, 1447) * 1432–1438: Robert Felton * 1438–''unknown'': Henry Sever,

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglicanism, Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London ...

;Edward IV (1461) * 1461–?1466: Thomas Wilford * ?1466–1468: Thomas Bonyfaunt * 1468–1476: John Gunthorpe, Dean of Wells and, until 1478,

Archdeacon of Essex The Archdeacon of West Ham is a senior ecclesiastical officer – in charge of the Archdeaconry of West Ham – in the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford. The current archdeacon is Elwin Cockett. Brief history Historically, the Archdeaconry ...

* 1471: Alexander Legh * 1476–1483: Thomas Danet * 1483: Walter Felde ;Richard III (1483) * 1483-1485 John Taillour ;Henry VII (1485) * 1485–1495: Christopher Urswick * 1495-1497: Richard FitzJames * 1497–''unknown'':

Richard Mayew Richard Mayew (1439/40–1516), also written Mayo, was an English academic, who became Bishop of Hereford (1504 to 1516) and a diplomat for Henry VII of England. Biography Mayew was born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England. He was President of Magd ...

Bishop of Hereford The Bishop of Hereford is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury. The episcopal see is centred in the City of Hereford where the bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is in the Cathedral Church of Sa ...

(died 1516) * ''unknown'': Christopher Bainbridge * 28 January 1507 - 1509: John Ednam (Edenham) * ''unknown''–1509:

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes ( ; 5/15 April 1588 – 4/14 December 1679) was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book '' Leviathan'', in which he expounds an influ ...

Dean of Exeter The Dean of Exeter is the head of the Chapter of Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, England. The chapter was established by William Briwere, Bishop of Exeter (1224–44) who set up the offices of dean and chancellor of Exeter Cathedr ...

. ;Henry VIII (1509); Edward VI (1547); Mary I (1553) * 1509–1514: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey,

Archbishop of York The archbishop of York is a senior bishop in the Church of England, second only to the archbishop of Canterbury. The archbishop is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and the metropolitan bishop of the province of York, which covers ...

(etc.) * 1514–''unknown'':

Richard Rawlins Richard Rawlins (died 1536) was Bishop of St David's between the years 1523 and 1536. He graduated B.D. in 1492, D.D. in 1495, was a fellow in 1480, and warden of Merton College, Oxford in 1508 to 1521. He was installed rector of St. Mary Woolno ...

Archdeacon of Huntingdon The Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Ely. The archdeacon is responsible for some clergy discipline and pastoral care in the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon and Wisbech. History The Archdeaconry o ...

(later Bishop of St David's), 1523) (died 1528) * 1521–''unknown'': John Longland, Bishop of Lincoln (died 1547) * 1523–''unknown'': Edward Lee (later

, 1531) * 1530–''unknown'': John Stokesley,

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

(died 1539) *c.1532–1537:

Edward Foxe Edward Foxe (c. 1496 – 8 May 1538) was an English churchman, Bishop of Hereford. He played a major role in Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and he assisted in drafting the '' Ten Articles'' of 1536. Early life He was born at ...

, 1535 * 1537–>1555:

Nicholas Heath Nicholas Heath (c. 1501–1578) was the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor. He previously served as Bishop of Worcester. Life Heath was born in London and graduated BA at Oxford in 1519. He then migrated to Chris ...

, Bishop of RochesterChronica juridicialia (died 1578) ;Elizabeth I (1558) * 1559–1561: William Bill, Master of Trinity * 1561–1572: Edmund Guest, Bishop of Rochester. * 1576–''unknown'': John Piers, Bishop of Salisbury, later

. {died 1594) * 29 March 1572 – 1591:

Edmund Freke Edmund Freke (also spelled Freake or Freak; c. 1516–1591) was an English dean and bishop. Life He was born in Essex, and educated at Cambridge, gaining his M.A. there c. 1550. In 1565 he was appointed Canon of the sixth stall at St George's ...

* 1591–1594: Richard Fletcher, Bishop of Bristol * 1595–''unknown'': Anthony Watson, Bishop of Chichester (died 1605) ;James I (1603) * 1605–''1626'': Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Chichester, then of Ely * 1619–''unknown'': George Montaigne (or Mountain),

(etc.) (died 1628) ;Charles I (1625) * 1626: Francis White,

Bishop of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York. The diocese covers the county of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District. The see is in the city of ...

, then Bishop of Norwich and

Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire (with the exception of the Soke of Peterborough), together with a section of nor ...

(died 1638) * 1632–''unknown'':

Walter Curle Walter Curle (or Curll; 1575 – 1647) was an English bishop, a close supporter of William Laud. Born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, he was educated at St Albans School and at Christ's College, Cambridge (matriculated c. 1592), transferri ...

, Prelate of the Garter and

Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held ''ex officio'' (except ...

(died 1647) ;''Commonwealth (1649-1660)'' ;Charles II (1660) * 1660–1662: Brian Duppa,

* 1662–1675: Humphrey Henchman, Bishop of Salisbury, then

* 1675–1684:

John Dolben John Dolben (1625–1686) was an English priest and Church of England bishop and archbishop. Life Early life He was the son of William Dolben (died 1631), prebendary of Lincoln and bishop-designate of Gloucester, and Elizabeth Williams ...

, Bishop of Rochester ;James II (1685) * 1684–1687: Francis Turner, Bishop of Ely * 1687:

John Leyburn John Leyburn (1615 – 20 June, 1702) was an English Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of England from 1685 to 1688 and then when it was divided served as the Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1688 to 1702. He was ...

Vicar Apostolic of England The Apostolic Vicariate of England (and Wales) was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. It was led by a vicar apostolic (or apostolic vicar) who was a titular bishop. The apostolic vicariate was created ...

* 1687–1689: The Hon Cardinal Philip Howard ;William III (1689); Anne (1702) * 1689–1703: William Lloyd,

Bishop of St Asaph The Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph. The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is loca ...

, then of Lichfield and Coventry, then of

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engla ...

* 1703–1714: John Sharp, Archbishop of York ;George I (1714); George II (1727) * 1714–1715:

George Smalridge George Smalridge (''alias'' Smallridge; 18 May 1662 – 27 September 1719) was Bishop of Bristol (1714–1719). Life Smalridge was born at Lichfield, son of the Sheriff of Lichfield Thomas Smalridge, George received his early education, this b ...

, Bishop of Bristol * 1715–1716: William Wake, Bishop of Lincoln * 1716–1718: William Nicolson,

* 1718–1723: Richard Willis, Bishop of Gloucester * 1723–1743: Lancelot Blackburne, Archbishop of York * 1743–1748: Thomas Sherlock, Bishop of Salisbury * 1748–1757: Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York * 1757–1761: John Gilbert, Archbishop of York ;George III (1760); George IV (1820); William IV (1830); Victoria (1837) * 1761–1777: The Hon Robert Hay Drummond, Archbishop of York * 1777–1808: William Markham, Archbishop of York * 1808–1847: The Hon Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York * 1847–1870: Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, then of Winchester * 1870–1882: The Hon

Gerald Wellesley Gerald Valerian Wellesley (1809 – 17 September 1882) was a Church of England cleric who became the Dean of Windsor. More importantly, he was domestic chaplain to Queen Victoria and played a major advisory role regarding the royal family' ...

, Dean of Windsor * 1882–1906: Lord Alwyne Compton, Bishop of Ely ;Edward VII (1901); George V (1910) * 1906–1933: Joseph Armitage Robinson, Dean of Westminster, then of Wells ;Edward VIII (1936); George VI (1936); Elizabeth II (1952); Charles III (2022) * 1933–1945:

Cosmo Gordon Lang William Cosmo Gordon Lang, 1st Baron Lang of Lambeth, (31 October 1864 – 5 December 1945) was a Scottish Anglican prelate who served as Archbishop of York (1908–1928) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1928–1942). His elevation to Archbishop ...

, Archbishop of Canterbury * 1946–1953:

Edward Woods Edward Woods (July 5, 1903 – October 8, 1989) was an American actor. He is probably best known for his extensive role as Matt Doyle in ''The Public Enemy'' opposite James Cagney. Life and career Woods' parents were Mary Clark and Willi ...

Bishop of Lichfield The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers 4,516 km2 (1,744 sq. mi.) of the counties of Powys, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and W ...

* 1953–1970: Michael Gresford Jones, Bishop of St Albans * 1970–1988: David Say, Bishop of Rochester * 1988–1997: John Taylor, Bishop of St Albans * 1997–2013:

Nigel McCulloch Nigel Simeon McCulloch, (born 17 January 1942) is an Anglican bishop. He is a retired Bishop of Manchester in the Church of England. He was appointed in August 2002, taking up duties later that year and was installed in February 2003. He ret ...

, Bishop of Manchester * 2013–present:

References

Sources

* * {{British Monarchy Household 1103 establishments in England Anglican ecclesiastical offices Church of England lists Lists of English people Lists of office-holders in the United Kingdom British monarchy Almoners