Religious Institutions Flashcards
What were monasteries?
Large land endowments that housed monks of religious orders (they took vows that separated them from ordinary church members).
They were the closest institution to Heaven on Earth.
What was the social function of the monasteries?
Monks were the spiritual equivalent of secular soldiers, they fought the supernatural enemies.
The battle for the safety of the land was closely associated with the battle for the safety of the souls.
What was the penitential function of the monasteries?
Serious sin (killing at war) could only be effaced through the work of the monks. For the king and nobility to fight wars, endowing a monastery meant that monks did penance on their behalf (substitutive penance). Protection through prayer - a continued conversation with God.
How many monasteries were there in England and Wales? And how many in London?
800 in England and Wales.
19 in London.
Why were monasteries powerful administrative tools?
After the death of an abbot the period of inoccupancy meant that revenue went to the king.
Kings could also forward their own nominees.
In 1378 how much money went to King Henry VI during the period of inoccupancy at the monastery of Peterborough?
£40.
When and why was the London Charterhouse founded?
Founded in 1371 in the context of Edward III’s foreign campaigns during the Hundred Years’ War. Prayers were to be said for king and realm (evident in statutes).
What were the intentions behind William Wykeham’s (Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England) founding of Winchester College?
It was primarily a religious house: supported a warden, 10 priests, 3 chaplains, 3 clerks, 16 choristers - all performed Divine Service in the college chapel = Masses sung for founder.
Also provided 70 scholarship places with 2 full time staff. Wykeham desired talented poor boys to acquire a pre-university education (feeder for New College, Oxford) and join the secular clergy.
What was Lady Katherine Berkley’s endowment in 1384?
Wotton School in Gloucestershire. The endowment was £17 a year that supported a schoolmaster and 2 poor scholars who received free schooling and hospitality.
The statutes stipulated that the Master was to celebrate daily Mass for founder and her relatives.
Why was school endowment attractive and name an example?
Schools were malleable: founders could define duties, appoint men and cement their names in daily life - potential to accumulate lots of prayers from many people.
Rotheram statutues: 1482 - man learned in song and 6 choristers to celebrate liturgy.
Describe the foundation of Eton College 1440-46.
To have 10 priests, 4 clerks, 6 chorister boys - duty to maintain divine worship and pray for King Henry VI.
College was also to provide for 25 poor scholars to learn grammar who were also to pray for King and all faithful departed.
Training of high quality liturgists - greater reverence to God and men who would later disperse to parishes: William Brigeman evident in E.C.B and All Saints’, Bristol.
What were the intentions behind the foundation at Ewelme (school, parish church and almshouse)?
At the heart of the foundation was prayers in return for de la Poles’ generosity.
Almshouse: to support 2 priests and 13 poor men in perpetuity - duty of all residents to pray for souls of de la Poles daily.
Anniversaries to be kept for both de la Poles and Chaucers - constant accumulation of prayers.
School: a teacher of grammar to teach the children of Ewelme for free - political intentions (possibly a feeder for Oxford) and augmented family name.
