3.23 The Church

Question 1

What did the Church teach? (3)

Answer 1

• About the afterlife => where they will go to heaven/ hell and how to get there
• Heaven was conditional - only went if you go to Church, pay tithe, confession etc.
• If not, go to hell

Question 2

What role did the Church play in the lives of people? (5)

Answer 2

• Promise of afterlife gives hope and comfort
• Hope of salvation vs fear of damnation
• Came every Sunday to celebrate together => community
• Weddings, baptisms, funerals, confessions => momentous occasions
• Gave medieval people a route to use minds and imaginations

Question 3

What was the power of the King in terms of the Church? (2)

Answer 3

• Decides on who should be appointed bishop/ archbishop
• Church was subject to the laws of England which were decided by King

Question 4

What was the power of the Pope in terms of the Church? (3)

Answer 4

• Head of the Church and approves all appointments
• All christians owed obedience to Pope
• Had power to excommunicate a King or even his whole kingdom

Question 5

What does it mean to be excommunicated?

Answer 5

Means to be removed from the catholic faith => you cannot access anything from Catholic Churches, therefore condemned to hell

Question 6

What were the economic roles of the Church? (5)

Answer 6

• All paid a tithe to Church => 10% of earnings/ produce
• Could be money of produce
• Surplice fees were paid for ceremonies such as Weddings,, baptisms and funerals
• Other taxes also paid to Church at certain times of year e.g Easter Dues
• Peasants had to work for free on Church lands

Question 7

What were the educational roles of the Church? (4)

Answer 7

• Church = only constitution which produced books
• Printing press nit invented until 16th century, so texts were copied + illustrations painted by monks by hand
• Monks copied important texts other than religious ones, such as medical texts for doctors.
• In this was Church = in control of which books were published.

Question 8

What were the political roles of the Church? (2)

Answer 8

• Leading members of Church advised King on important national matters as members of Witan
• Archbishops, bishops, abbots/ abbesses, priests = members of Witan -=> Archbishop of York + Canterbury = senior members

Question 9

What were the legal roles of the Church? (2)

Answer 9

• Heard court cases for crimes carried out on Church lands, e.g. theft or incest (serious offence as Church forbade it)
• Church led justice in King’s name

Question 10

What were the religious roles of the Church? (2)

Answer 10

• To ensure people demonstrated their belief in God by going to Church
• To ensure people lived a good life and went to heaven

Question 11

What were the medical roles of the Church? (2)

Answer 11

• People in 12th century didn’t understand causes of diseases, and thought they were a punishment from God
• Therefore, priests tried to cure the sick by praying for them or recommending they pay a penance in form of money, prayer of pain

Question 12

What were the roles of the Priest? (4)

Answer 12

• Central role in community
• Helped the sick, led church services, heard confessions, married people, baptised children etc.
• Advised all members of community, as everyone went to Church - from Lord of Manor to youngest peasant
• Provided alms => charity for poor

Question 13

What were the 4 main problems in the Church?

Answer 13

• Pluralism
• Breaking Vows
• Simony
• Nepotism

Question 14

What was pluralism?

Answer 14

Holding more than one office/ job in the Church. E.g, Archbishop of Canterbury (Stigand) was also Bishop of Winchester.

Question 15

What was breaking vows?

Answer 15

All members of clergy were supposed to be celibate, but many were married and/ or had children.

Question 16

What was simony?

Answer 16

Selling a position in Church to make money.

Question 17

What was nepotism?

Answer 17

Appointing a family member/ friend to a position in the Church rather than someone who was best qualified.