Norman England - Part Three - The Norman Church and Monasticism

Question 1

Why was the Church reformed

Answer 1

William was very devout
- english church werent following strict roman rules
- william built Battle Abbey as peneance from violent campaign
- Lanfranc was appointed as archbishop of Canterbury (1070)

Question 2

Church Organisation

Answer 2

Bishops - replaced by normans
- controlled areas called diocese -> devided into archdeaconries - deaneries
- cathedrals built in important towns and cities (salisbury)

Question 3

Lanfranc Reforms

Answer 3

pluralism - members of the clergy holding multiple positions in the church
marraige - preist in england were allowed to get married -> banned to align with rome
simony - buying or selling of positions
nepotism - giving positions to family / friends

Normans rebuilt churches larger in stone in major towns (london,durham, york)
- reminded people of how God was on Normans side
- built romaneque style -> tied them to romes greatness
- also showed people how William valued God

Question 4

Change of Norman Kings relations with the Papacy

Answer 4

1. At the beginning of Norman period - good relationship with Alexander II (papal support for norman conquest)
2. papacy agreed with norman reforms
3. in 1970 william builds Battle abbey in penace for his violence
4. relationships deterioted with Gregory VII with the investiture controvesy (over who should appoint religion figures)
5. Willian II fails to appoint new archbishop when lanfranc dies -> takes the money -> on thought deathbed appoints Anselm
6. Anselm favoured the Pope to the King
7. Pope dissapproved of William II.

Question 5

Norman Changes of Education

Answer 5

• Anselm + Lanfranc promoted education + built libraries
• normans wanted educated children + economic development
• introduced grammar school -> allowed people into higher paid jobs
• Grammar schools were september - june (allowed peasant children to harvest during summer)

Question 6

Importance of Monastic Reforms

Answer 6

• Monks life - 2 meals a day + no talking + 8 services
• Benedictin monks took vows of poverty + chastity + obedience + stabily (never leaving the monastic community)
• Clunias order introduced to england in 1077 (stricter)
• important for education + taught latin
• money given (in penance) to monastries + abbeys + william encouraging them being built showed that the normans valued relgion and god
• Properly cemented the normans in England