Royal Almonry
Encyclopedia
The Royal Almonry is a small office within the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....

 of the Sovereign
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...

 of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, headed by the Lord High Almoner, an office dating from 1103. The almoner
Almoner
An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing cash to the deserving poor.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 in charity to...

 is responsible for distributing alms
Alms
Alms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...

 to the poor.

The Lord High Almoner is a diocesan bishop of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

. The current holder of the office is the Lord Bishop of Manchester
Bishop of Manchester
The Bishop of Manchester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Manchester in the Province of York.The current bishop is the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, the 11th Lord Bishop of Manchester, who signs Nigel Manchester. The bishop's official residence is Bishopscourt, Bury New Road,...

, the Right Reverend Nigel Simeon McCulloch
Nigel Simeon McCulloch
Nigel Simeon McCulloch is an Anglican bishop. He is the current 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.-Early life:...

, appointed 1997. There is also an hereditary Grand Almoner, an office dating from 1685 and vested in the person of the Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon...

, 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, who is also the Deputy Clerk of the Closet
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...

 of the Ecclesiastical Household
Ecclesiastical Household
The Ecclesiastical Household is a part of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Reflecting the different constitutions of the Churches of England and of Scotland, there are separate Ecclesiastical Households in each nation.-England:...

, Sub-dean of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...

, and Domestic Chaplain at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...

.

There are in addition a Secretary, and Assistant Secretary, both offices of which are shared with other Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....

 appointments. There are also half a dozen wandsmen.

The Almonry is responsible to the Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....

 for the arrangements for the annual Maundy
Maundy
Maundy may refer to:*Maundy Thursday – a Christian holiday commemorating the Last Supper*Maundy - the liturgical foot washing ceremonies that occurs on Maundy Thursday*Maundy money – dispensed at the Maundy ceremony by the British Monarch...

 service.

Lord High Almoners

  • 1509–unknown: Thomas Wolsey
  • 1559 - 1561: William Bill
  • 1605 - : Lancelot Andrewes
    Lancelot Andrewes
    Lancelot Andrewes was an English bishop and scholar, who held high positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. During the latter's reign, Andrewes served successively as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester and oversaw the translation of the...

  • 1619–unknown: George Montaigne
    George Montaigne
    George Montaigne was an English bishop.-Life:He graduated B.A. from Queens' College, Cambridge in 1590, and M.A. in 1593. In 1597 he was chaplain to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, on his expedition against Cadiz. He became rector of Great Cressingham in 1602...

     (or Mountain)
  • 1660–1662: Brian Duppa
    Brian Duppa
    Brian Duppa was an English bishop, a noted Royalist and adviser to Charles I of England.-Life:He was educated at Westminster School and Christchurch, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1609. He was a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1612, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1632...

  • 1662–1675: Humphrey Henchman
    Humphrey Henchman
    Humphrey Henchman was a Church of England clergyman and bishop of London from 1663 to 1675.-Early life:He was born in Burton Latimer , Northamptonshire, the son of Thomas Henchman, a skinner, and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge where he achieved BA in 1613 and MA in 1616...

  • 1675–1684: John Dolben
    John Dolben
    John Dolben was an English priest and Church of England bishop and archbishop.-Life:He was the son of William Dolben , prebendary of Lincoln and bishop-designate of Gloucester. He was educated at Westminster School under Richard Busby and at Christ Church, Oxford. He fought on the Royalist side at...

  • 1684–1687: Francis Turner
    Francis Turner (bishop)
    Francis Turner D.D. was Bishop of Ely, one of the seven bishops who petitioned against the Declaration of Indulgence and one of the nine bishops who refused to take the oath of allegiance to William III.-Family and education:...

  • 1687: John Leyburn
    John Leyburn
    John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the...

  • 1687–1689: Hon. Philip Howard
    Philip Howard (Cardinal)
    Hon. Philip Howard was an English Roman Catholic cardinal. Born the third son of Henry Frederick Howard and his wife, Elizabeth Stuart , Howard was a member of the premier Catholic family in England...

  • 1689–1703: William Lloyd
  • 1703–1714: John Sharp
  • 1714–1715: George Smalridge
    George Smalridge
    -Life:George Smalridge was born at Lichfield, son of the Sheriff of Lichfield Thomas Smalridge, George received his early education, this being completed at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford....

  • 1715–1716: William Wake
    William Wake
    William Wake was a priest in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death in 1737.-Life:...

  • 1716–1718: William Nicolson
  • 1718–1723: Richard Willis
    Richard Willis (bishop)
    -Life:He was born in Ribbesford, Worcestershire, where his father was a tanner. He was educated at Bewdley grammar school and Wadham College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1684 and graduated B.A. in 1688. He became a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford....

  • 1723–1743: Lancelot Blackburne
    Lancelot Blackburne
    Lancelot Blackburne , was an English clergyman, who became Archbishop of York, and – in popular belief – a pirate....

  • 1743–1748: Thomas Sherlock
    Thomas Sherlock
    Thomas Sherlock was a British divine who served as a Church of England bishop for 33 years. He is also noted in church history as an important contributor to Christian apologetics.-Life:...

  • 1748–1757: Matthew Hutton
    Matthew Hutton (Archbishop of Canterbury)
    Matthew Hutton was a high churchman in the Church of England, serving as Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury...

  • 1757–1761: John Gilbert
  • 1761–1777: Hon. Robert Hay-Drummond
    Robert Hay Drummond
    Robert Hay , known later as Robert Hay-Drummond of Cromlix and Innerpeffray, was Archbishop of York from 1761 to 1776.-Origins and birth:...

  • 1777–1808: William Markham
    William Markham
    William Markham may refer to:* William Markham , English scholar and religious figure* William Markham , first acting governor of colonial Pennsylvania* William Markham , Atlanta businessman and mayor...

  • 1808–1837: Hon. Edward Venables-Vernon

  • 1882–1906: Lord Alwyne Compton
    Lord Alwyne Compton (clergyman)
    Lord Alwyne Compton was an Anglican bishop in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Compton was the fourth son of Spencer Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. His first post was as Curate at Horsham, after which he was Rector of Castle...


  • 1933–1945: Cosmo Gordon Lang
  • 1946–1953: Edward Sydney Woods
    Edward Sydney Woods
    Edward Sydney Woods was an Anglican bishop, the second Suffragan Bishop of Croydon from 1930 until 1937 and, from then until his death, the 94th Bishop of Lichfield....

  • 1953–1970: Edward Michael Gresford Jones
    Edward Michael Gresford Jones
    The son of a Bishop, Edward Michael Gresford Jones KCVO, DD was enthroned as the 6th Bishop of St Albans on 28 September 1950, where he remained in office until 1970...

  • 1970–1988: Richard David Say
    David Say
    Richard David Say KCVO DD was a former bishop of Rochester . He was often noted for his height .-Early life and education:He was the son of Commander Richard Say, RNVR...

  • 1988–1997: John Bernard Taylor
    John Bernard Taylor
    John Bernard Taylor is a British bishop and theologian. He was the Bishop of St Albans from 1980 to 1995 and the Lord High Almoner from 1988 to 1997.He has authored a number of religious books from a Christian viewpoint.-Books:...

  • 1997–present: Nigel Simeon McCulloch
    Nigel Simeon McCulloch
    Nigel Simeon McCulloch is an Anglican bishop. He is the current 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.-Early life:...

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