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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.

The name almoner was also used for a hospital official who interviewed prospective patients. The position is now usually defunct.

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