The Norman Church Flashcards
Q: What role did the Anglo-Saxon Church play in society during Edward the Confessor’s reign?
A: It was a central part of society, but William and the Normans saw it as corrupt and in need of reform.
Q: What were the four abuses the Normans aimed to eliminate?
A: Pluralism, Simony, Nepotism, and Clergy Marriage
Q: What is pluralism in the context of the Anglo-Saxon Church?
A: Clergymen held multiple church posts, considered corrupt.
Q: What is simony?
A: Selling church positions for money.
Q: What is nepotism in the church?
A: Giving church offices to friends or relatives.
Q: Why was clergy marriage seen as a problem?
A: Clergy were supposed to remain celibate, but some were married and had children.
Q: Who was Lanfranc, and what was his role in church reform?
A: An Italian monk, Lanfranc became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1070 and led major reforms.
Q: What were Lanfranc’s two key reforms?
A: Reorganizing the church structure and strengthening church courts.
Q: What did Lanfranc do to Anglo-Saxon bishops?
A: Replaced them all with Normans.
Q: How did Lanfranc reorganize the land of the church?
A: Divided dioceses into archdeaconries and deaneries for better local control.
Q: What was the purpose of synods established by Lanfranc?
A: To spread reform, issue instructions, and punish rule-breakers.
Q: Why were cathedrals moved to towns and cities?
A: To centralize the church and make dioceses easier to control.
Q: What crimes were tried in church courts after 1076?
A: Spiritual offenses like blasphemy, non-attendance, adultery, and incest.
Q: How did punishments in church courts compare to secular ones?
A: They were less severe, e.g., pilgrimage instead of execution
Q: What did Bishop Odo’s trial demonstrate about church courts?
A: Their power, though William I intervened for political reasons.
