The Norman Church and Monasticism

Created by

Sophie Hamilton-Mills

Cards (15)

How did the Church influence people's lives?
> major land owner and collected tithes on everything a farm produced
> taught people to live a good life and about heaven through doom paintings
> controlled what books were published
> some clergy members were also members of the Witan who advised the king
> would go on pilgrimages
> led services, heard confessions, baptised children and gave advice
> heard about crimes committed on Church land
> people turned to them if they were sick
What was the significance of Norman religious buildings?
> showed devotion to God and power of Normans
> used Romanesque style and built in shape of a cross
> cathedrals where staffed by monks
> built shrines to important saints or holy relics
What were William's 4 main concerns of the English Church?
P luralism - clergy holding multiple jobs
S imony - selling positions within the Church
N epotism - appointing unqualified family members
M arriage - clergy had to remain celibate
How were Bishops reformed in the English Church?
> by 1080 there was only one Anglo-Saxon bishop left - the others had been replaced with Normans
> Lanfranc was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1070
> Lanfranc was given the job of reforming the English Church
How was Architecture reformed in the English Church?
> built in Romanesque style
> simple but impressive
How was Organisation reformed in the English Church?
> given a clear structure to keep clergy in order
> new cathedrals built in important locations like Coventry, Salisbury and Lincoln
How were Legal Issues reformed in the English Church?
> 1076 - only Church could try clergy members
> Papal law - tax of one pence paid to the Pope by every household
How were Parish Priests reformed in the English Church?
> most Anglo-Saxon priests kept their jobs and remained married
What were the vows of a Benedictine monk?
> give up all wealth and personal possessions (poverty)
> abstain from sex and other pleasures (chastity)
> obey teachings of God (obedience)
> never leave monastic community (stability)
What were the lives of monks and nuns like?
> lived away from rest of society to get away from distractions and temptations
> monasteries and nunneries were self-sufficient
> would copy texts, tend to sick or help the poor
> people would pay monasteries to pray for them
How did the Normans reform monasteries? 
> a new liturgy was introduced in an attempt to standardise the Church
> brought over Norman abbots to ensure rules of St Benedict were being followed
> Cluniac Order introduced (1077) which was more strict and made reform easier
> the number of monasteries rose from 60 to 250 to show their importance and that the Norman rule was 'blessed by God'
> a new hierarchy was introduced to keep priests under control and reduce corruption
Why did William reform the Church?
> he had promised the Pope in exchange for the Papal Banner
> he was concerned about the corruption in the Church
> he was very religious
> he thought the Cluniac's discipline would improve the standards in monasteries
Why did William reform education?
> better education was needed for the growing population
> improved skills were needed for trade
> Norman barons and knights wanted their children to be educated highly
> monastic reforms meant children could no longer be educated in monasteries
What changes were made to education under the Normans?
> moved into separated buildings in towns
> a large number of schools were established (40 by the end of the 12th century)
> lessons were taught in French and writing was in Latin
> Lanfranc and Anslem played a large part in reforming education
How did Grammar Schools develop?
> wealthy boys were enrolled in grammar schools for 4 years
> girls did not attend school
> students were taught to speak and write Latin
> school began in September and ended in June so peasant children could help harvest