What does aumbry mean?
An aumbry is a recessed cupboard or niche built into the wall of a church, traditionally used to store communion vessels, altar linens, chrism oil, and — in the medieval period — the reserved sacrament. Found throughout English parish churches and cathedrals from the Norman era onward, aumbries are typically small, arched, and fitted with doors of wood, metal, or stone, often positioned near the altar or within the sacristy. The word also extends, less commonly, to any similar wall recess used for domestic storage in medieval buildings. Today 'aumbry' appears mainly in architectural description, church guidebooks, and heritage literature, lending a text a learned and historical tone. Though largely replaced in Catholic practice by the free-standing tabernacle, the aumbry remains a familiar feature of Anglican worship and a valuable term for anyone interested in ecclesiastical architecture.
nounA recessed cupboard or niche in the wall of a church, used to store communion vessels, altar linens, and other sacred items; more broadly, any small cupboard or almirah-like recess in a wall.
- A recessed cupboard or niche in a church wall used to store communion vessels, the reserved sacrament, or other liturgical items.
- More broadly, any small cupboard or storage recess set into a wall, especially one of medieval origin.
"The priest opened the stone aumbry beside the altar to retrieve the chalice."
"The thirteenth-century chapel still preserves its original aumbry, its carved stone door intact."
"She placed the spare candles and linen in the aumbry behind the choir screen."
Both 'aumbries' and 'aumbris' are attested; 'aumbries' is the standard modern form.
"Several aumbries survive in the cathedral's crypt."
Before there were tabernacles, medieval churches kept the consecrated host locked away in an aumbry — a humble stone cupboard built right into the sanctuary wall.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aumbry
The word 'aumbry' derives from Old French 'armoire', meaning a chest or cupboard, which itself comes from Latin 'armarium', a cupboard for storing arms or tools, ultimately related to 'arma' (arms, equipment). It entered Middle English through Anglo-Norman, appearing in various spellings including 'ambry', 'aumery', and 'almerie'. Cognates include the modern French 'armoire', the Hindi/Urdu 'almirah' (borrowed via Portuguese), and English 'armoury'.
How aumbry is actually used
The word is chiefly encountered in ecclesiastical and architectural contexts — descriptions of churches, guidebooks, and histories of medieval building. It carries a scholarly, slightly archaic register. In modern Roman Catholic usage the tabernacle has largely superseded the aumbry for reserving the sacrament, though aumbries survive in Anglican churches. Variant spellings include 'ambry' and 'aumery'.
Easily confused with aumbry
An aumbry is a wall cupboard or recess for storing sacred vessels, whereas an almonry was the place in a monastery where alms were distributed.