The Role of the Church in England

The Anglo-Saxon Church

The Church was one of the most important institutions in Anglo-Saxon life. It remained very important under the Normans.

Bishops

Bishops were very important in Anglo-Saxon society.
- Bishops were in charge of church districts.
Bishops were represented in the Witan (the king's council) too.

Administrative role

The Church provided clerks (like secretaries) and record-keepers to the king, as most of society could not read or write and many people in the church could.
But local priests were not very rich, not very literate and mostly lived as peasants.
The Church also taught local people to read and write.
Abbots and bishops were among the best educated people in the country, so often joined the Witan and advised the King.
Abbots and bishops were always literate so provided advice to the king.

The Church in Europe

The Catholic Church was a dominant institution throughout Europe.
All villages had a priest (who was Catholic).
The Pope lived in Rome (in Vatican City) and was very influential across Europe.
- The Pope was a political as well as spiritual leader. In the 15th century, the Pope's son, Cesare Borgia would go on military campaigns against cities with his father's blessing as the Catholic ruler on Earth.

Stigand - Normanisation of the Church

Stigand, was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1052-1070. Stigand was an Anglo-Saxon, not a Norman. William would normanise the English Church.

Stigand was Anglo-Saxon

The Archbishop of Canterbury leads the Church of England.
Stigand, was an Anglo-Saxon.
William I had already replaced lots of Anglo-Saxon nobles with Normans. Because the Church was so important in England (it ruled people's lives and owned 25% of England's land), allowing it to be run by an Anglo-Saxon was a problem for him.

Stigand was corrupt

Aside from being an Anglo-Saxon, Stigand was not a very good example to England or the Church.
He used his position of power to increase his personal wealth. Stigand was the bishop for lots of different regions in the UK, meaning he controlled more land and earned more money.
Stigand appointed people to jobs in the Church based on how much money they would pay him, rather than the merit of the people applying for the jobs.

Archbishop Lanfranc - Normanisation of the Church

Lanfranc was an Italian, who had moved to France. William I made Lanfranc the Archbishop of Canterbury in August of 1070.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Lanfranc centralised power towards himself and towards King William I.
Lanfranc brought every aspect of the Church of England under his control.
Lanfranc was controlled by only 2 people - the King, and the Pope (the leader of the Catholic church who lived in Vatican City).
So, William gained great power over the Church by giving Lanfranc lots of power.
In the Earls' Revolt of 1075, Archbishop Lanfranc was in charge of England whilst William was travelling.

Church architecture

English churches were rebuilt in the architecture style found in Normandy, rather than in traditional England.

Archdeacons

Dioceses, were regions controlled by bishops.
Lanfranc introduced an archdeacon into each diocese, to increase his control over the actions and behaviour of members of the Church.
Previously, priests had lived relatively normal lives and mixed with normal people. Lanfranc created a separate system in society for priests and the people involved in running the Church.

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

1.1Anglo-Saxon Society

1.1.1The Monarchy & Government

1.1.2Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

1.1.3The Legal System

1.1.4Local Government

1.1.5The Economy & Social Structure

1.1.6Towns

1.1.7The Church

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.9Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon Society

1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis

1.2.1The House of Godwin

1.2.2Harold Godwinson's Succession

1.2.3The Rebellion Against Tostig

1.2.4Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Edward the Confessor

1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne

1.3.1William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada & Edgar

1.3.2The Witan & the Reign of Harold Godwinson

1.3.3The Battles of Gate Fulford & Stamford Bridge

1.3.4Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

1.4The Norman Invasion

1.4.1The Battle of Hastings

1.4.2Reasons for William's Victory

1.4.3End of Topic Test - Rival Claimants for the Throne

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

2.1Establishing Control

2.1.1The Submission of the Earls

2.1.2Getting Control of England

2.1.3Reasons for Building Castles

2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance

2.2.1The Revolts against William

2.2.2End of Topic Test - William I in Power

2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087

2.3.1Harrying of the North, 1069-70

2.3.2Changes in Land Ownership 1066-1087

2.3.3William I Maintains Royal Power

2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075

2.4.1The Revolt - 1075

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Legacy of Resistance

2.4.3Grade 9 - Legacy of Resistance

3Norman England, 1066-88

3.1The Feudal System & the Church

3.1.1The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

3.1.2The Nature of Feudalism & Forfeiture

3.1.3The Role of the Church in England

3.1.4The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

3.1.5End of Topic Test - The Feudal System

3.2Norman Government

3.2.1Norman Government - Regents

3.2.2The Sheriff & the Forest

3.2.3The Domesday Book

3.3The Norman Aristocracy

3.3.1Aristocratic Culture & Language

3.3.2Bishop Odo

3.4William I & His Sons

3.4.1William I

3.4.2William's Death & the Succession

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Norman Government

3.4.4Grade 9 - Norman Government

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