Intellectual and Religious ideas under Henry VII Flashcards
role of the church in society
Priests were above the rest of society as through their clothes, knowledge and practices- this meant the people often lacked a personal relationship with God
People believed that they should submit to the authority of the church with their lives, through the completion of the 7 sacraments- this meant the church held significant authority over individuals and that religion was a fundamental part of life
church owned land (1/3 of English land was controlled by the church)
People were dependent on the maintenance of monasteries for their livelihoods
mass performed communally and on behalf of the community
Fear of abiding religious expectations often helped to maintain law and order
Role of the Church in politics
Pope was the head of the church and had supreme authority over all spiritual matters- this challenged the importance of statue law
Church courts and benefit of the clergy
Held 1/3 of all land in England
church as its own hierarchy in which Bishops and Archbishops hold considerable power
England was an Erastian country (state has supremacy over the church)
owns land
Abbots and Bishops often held roles in the house of Lords as they were good administrators
The church was good for Henry
-Big domestic and international influence
-Papacy has no objection to Henry’s use of church wealth when rewarding churchmen to whom he had given high office
-Popes did not interfere directly with the running of the English Church
-Henry sought dispensation to marry Liz of York, he wanted a good relationship with the Pope as he could be an important ally if people challenge his throne, could teach obedience to Henry’s people if needed
-Bishops and Abbots had good administration skills and often held political roles (Bishop Fox) as Churchmen were often well educated
-Guilds could be sources of local patronage and power, often ran schools and alms houses, they sometimes helped in the maintenance of their local area such as bridges, roads or church repairs
Church was in need of Reform
-Pope holds both political, spiritual power and land, is this now archaic?
-Senior churchmen held positions of power, this often led to corruption as some clergy would claim payments (stipends) from parishes in which they were appointed but absent
-some clergy were pluralists, they claimed stipends from several parishes
-some clergy were just bad at their job
-Abbots (heads of monasteries) were required to have significant administrative skills however some were not able and this resulted in rising criticisms about monastic life
-people were not able to have a personal relationship with God as everything was in Latin
-Church courts and Benefit of the Clergy
Confraternities
Confraternities provided monetary costs towards a funeral- important part of society
Guilds
another word for confraternities
Chantries
Chapels were mass was performed for the souls of the dead- money for these was often left in wills
important christian festivals
Corpus Christi
Christmas
Easter
Religious orders
Monastic orders
monks who lived in religious communities
Benedictine monks were most common
Lollards
heretics
favoured a translated bible
understanding was important
didn’t fully believe aspects of the eucharist
thought the catholic church were corrupt
denied the status of Priesthood
had widespread support which then declined after a failed revolt in 1414
Anticlericism
opposition to the churches tole in politics and none religious orders (was present in Henry’s reign)
The Renaissance
rediscovery
Humanism
every should be able to read the bible
emphasis on literacy
1450- printing press spread their message
WAS NOT a denial of religion
Erasmus
Influential humanist scholar
not English but visited (and met a young Henry VIII)
in close conversation with Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
influential (arch)bishop
