1 - The political and social role of the Church

Question 1

How did the Church give the monarch legitimacy

Answer 1

Archbishop of Canterbury annointed them during their coronation at Westminster Abbey

Question 2

When was Henry VIII coronated

Answer 2

1509

Question 3

What shows how England as a country was devoted to Catholicism in c1529

Answer 3

It was one of the oldest Catholic countries

Question 4

How did the Church play an active role in the governing of the country in c1529

Answer 4

Abbots and bishops sat in the House of Lords, advising the King

Question 5

How was Cardinal Wolsey the most important religious and political individual in the country in c1529

Answer 5

• Principal Advisor to the King
• Legatus a letere : Hold the right to act on behalf of the Pope
• Chancellor : Ultimate authority over legal system
• Archbishop of York : 2nd most important position in Church

Question 6

What type of laws were secular laws

Answer 6

Non-religious

Question 7

What type of laws were non-secular laws

Answer 7

Religious

Question 8

How did the interpretation of Canon Law differ in the country in c1529

Answer 8

Depended on which archdiosese you were part of (Canterbury or York)

Question 9

What shows how the King heavily relied on the Church to keep control

Answer 9

• Everyone was a parishoner in one of the 9000 parishes to which England was divided into
• So everyone knew their local priest
• The King was personally unknown to the majority of people

Question 10

What was a key Catholic belief that Henry VIII himself believed strongly in

Answer 10

Salvation by Christ through good works as well as good faith

Question 11

What taxes did every house in England pay to the Church in c1529

Answer 11

• Annual penny (Peter’s pence)
• Annual tithe
• Regardless of wealth or class

Question 12

What did the Church commonly charge the laity for in c1529

Answer 12

• Non-attendance at Church
• Breaking one of the Ten Commandments

Question 13

What would charges of heresy result in in c1529

Answer 13

A public execution by burning, in a public ceremony

Question 14

Why was excommunication so greatly feared amongst the laity in c1529

Answer 14

• It prevented people entering hevean
• Condemned them to spend eternity in hell, tormented by the devil in an inferno

Question 15

What is the overriding reason as to why the Church was so important in people’s lives in c1529

Answer 15

It provided the structure for people’s everyday lives

Question 16

What was the main focus of the church buildings and why in c1529

Answer 16

• The high altar
• Richly decorated

Question 17

When was the high altar used in c1529

Answer 17

Sunday mass + holy days

Question 18

Socially, why was the church building important for people in c1529

Answer 18

It held important village meetings, and other social activities such as markets

Question 19

For the wealthy, what did attending Church provide in c1529

Answer 19

A place to impress other members of the community with their wealth and piety

Question 20

How many religious houses were there in England in 1509

Answer 20

Over 850

Question 21

What role did monasteries play in society for the laity in c1529

Answer 21

• Help the poor + sick by providing elementary healthcare
• Provided education
• Provided jobs, as were major producers of wool + iron

Question 22

What was the largest monastery and what shows this in c1529

Answer 22

• Roche Abbey
• Stretched across 5 counties
• Lincolonshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire