Almoner (from the Greek eelmosyna 'alms' via Latin Almosunartius and French, known in English since circa 1300) is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing charity. A chaplain is typically a member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church, lay chaplains are also found in some settings such as universities. ... Allegorical personification of Charity as a mother with three infants by Anthony van Dyck Charity is a term that refers to giving. ...

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. As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... Alms Bag taken from some Tapestry in Orleans, Fifteenth Century. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... Charles VIII the Affable (French: Charles VIII lAffable) (June 30, 1470 – April 7, 1498) was King of France from 1483 to his death. ...

One of the most prominent such offices still extant is that of the (Angican) 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. Maundy Money is a special British coinage given to deserving poor people in a religious ceremony performed by Anglicans on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. ... In the Christian calendar, Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. ...

The "Almoner of His Holiness," the pope's official almoner, continues in office even after the pope dies. He "continues to carry out works of charity in accordance with the criteria employed during the Pope's lifetime" (Universi Dominici Gregis, 22). The Pope (from Greek: pappas, father; from Latin: papa, Papa, father) is the successor of St. ...

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. The term almoner is rarely used anymore in English, but its equivalents in other languages are often used for many pastoral functions styled chaplain in English. A chaplain is typically a member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church, lay chaplains are also found in some settings such as universities. ...

The Almoner is still, to this day, an important office in Freemasons' Lodges. His duty to oversee the needs of the Brethren within his Lodge. He is the contact for Charity and looks after the welfare of the members visiting the sick, aged and infirm.