The Norman Church

• Norman church

  The organization of the church under William the Conqueror after 1066, with architectural features that transformed the previous Anglo-Saxon churches
• Problems with Anglo-Saxon churches identified by William

  • Saxon clergy often absent from their parishes
  • Church offices and sacraments prayers were sold favoring the rich
  • Nepotism - jobs given to friends and family
  • Clergy were marrying when they should be celibate
• Archbishop Lanfrank


  Trusted regent appointed by William to reform the church
• Reforms made by Lanfrank

  1. Increased bishop authority

  2. Banned priests from marrying
• William did not get on well with the church initially as he refused to swear loyalty to the Pope
• Differences between Anglo-Saxon and Norman churches

  • Materials - Anglo-Saxon churches were often made of wood, Norman churches were built of stone
  • Scale - Norman churches were built on a much larger scale with nave, transepts, and choir
  • Architectural style - Norman churches were built in the Romanesque style with semi-circular arched windows and columns
• William saw the church as a means to further exercise Norman power and dominate the English
• Norman churches were rebuilt to emphasize that God was on the Norman's side and they were in England to stay