Norman Revision 7 - The role of the Church and Lanfranc's reforms

Question 1

Who was Stigand and what did he do?

Answer 1

Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed by Edward the Confessor in 1052.
He had very little power or control over the other bishops outside of his area.

Question 2

What was Stigand accused of, and what was he that was typical of Anglo-Saxon archbishops?

Answer 2

1 - ‘simony’ - the practise of taking money in exchange for granting church jobs
2 - he was a ‘pluralist’ - bishop in two areas - Canterbury and Winchester - so he received double the land and money

Question 3

Who was Lanfranc and what did he introduce?

Answer 3

The Norman Archbishop of Canterbury.
A strict hierarchy = Lanfranc > Archbishops > Bishops

Question 4

What corrupt practises did Lanfranc condemn?

Answer 4

‘Pluralism’ and ‘simony’ because he said the Church should stand above corruption and be pure

Question 5

What were Lanfranc’s 5 reforms to the Church?

Answer 5

1 - Hierarchy and organisation
2 - Religious reform
3 - Legal reform
4 - Cathedral building
5 - Normanisation of the Church

Question 6

Hierarchy and organisation

Answer 6

Parish priests, archdeacons, bishops, archbishops, and the leader of the Church.
Meant that Lanfranc was able to not only extend the power of the Church over the population, but also extend his personal power over the Church

Question 7

Lanfranc’s synods

Answer 7

Regular councils - used them to impose his reforms and monitor those below him in the hierarchy.
Synods were rare before 1066, but Lanfranc held 10 while he was Archbishop.

Question 8

Religious reform

Answer 8

1075, Lanfranc banned marriage for the clergy and made celibacy compulsory for priests. Also made simony (selling church posts for profit), nepotism, and pluralism (holding more than one church post) illegal.

Question 9

Legal reform

Answer 9

1076, members of the clergy would be tried in ‘hundred courts’ but instead special Church courts. Significant as Church was now separate from the legal system.
Church courts given the power to deal with religious and moral crimes, and trial by ordeal.

Question 10

Cathedral building

Answer 10

• Demolished and rebuilt Canterbury Cathedral + encouraged his bishops to do the same.
• Anglo Saxon cathedrals in rural areas removed and new ones built in strategically important market towns e.g. Thetford to Norwich. This meant the Church now had better control over their diocese.
• Norman cathedrals very large and imposing - designed to be symbolic of the power and might of the new Norman leaders.

Question 11

Normanisation of the Church

Answer 11

• Lanfranc purged Anglo Saxon Church leaders until only Wulfstan of Worcester remained
• as the clergy played such a prominent role in everyday life, they were able to influence how the public saw William, and preach that God supported him
• Church owned 25% of all land - Normans as bishops and archbishops = land secured against possible Anglo Saxon rebellions