3.1.1 The Anglo-Saxon Church

Question 1

Administrative role of the Anglo-Saxon Church

Answer 1

• 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.

Question 2

Bishops in the Anglo-Saxon church

Answer 2

• Bishops held important status in society.
• Bishops were in charge of church districts.
• Bishops were represented in the Witan (the king’s council) too.

Question 3

The Church in Europe during Anglo-Saxon times

Answer 3

• The Catholic Church was a dominant institution throughout Europe.
• All villages had a priest.
• The Pope lived in Rome and was very influential.
• 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.