The cellarer (and his helper, the sub-cellarer)

What happened to leftovers?
If the leftovers from the refectory and guesthouse were not needed for anything in particular, the cellarer gave these to the porter who distributed them to the poor and needy who gathered at the abbey gate.

The cellarer was one of the leading monastic officials and was chiefly responsible for organising the abbey’s supplies of food and drink. He might be helped by an assistant, the sub-cellarer. The cellarer distributed provisions to the monks’ refectory and infirmary. At the end of each week he received the kitchen utensils from the monks who had assisted in the kitchen that week, counted these to make sure everything was in order and then passed the equipment to the new weekly helpers. On Maundy Thursday, when the abbot and monks ceremoniously washed the feet of a number of poor folk, in imitation of Christ washing the disciples’ feet, the cellarer appointed several lay-brothers to prepare and bring warm water and towels to the cloister. On Good Friday, he put warm water in the cloister after the liturgy of the altars, and made sure that the lay-brothers cleaned the church, the cloister and the chapter-house.

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