The English Church

• How did William see the English Church

  • William had created the Abbey of St Martin at Battle as penance for the bloodshed at Hastings
  • He knew the Anglo-Saxon church held great power and influence: they held 1/4 of landed wealth and many religious figures were part of the Witan
  • William had Archbishop Ealdred of York preside over his coronation confirming his legitimacy as Edward's successor
• How did William control the English Church after 1070

  • Following Ealdred's death in Sep. 1069, he created the York Archbishopric
  • In a Council in Winchester in Easter 1070, he had Ermenfrid (papal legate) depose Archbishop Stigand - Stigand had been condemned for holding 2 bishoprics and supporting anti-pope Benedict X
  • Following Stigand's removal, he had loyal church supporters placed in England (Thomas of Bayeux as Archbishop of York + Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury)
  • By 1086, only 3 A-S abbots remained
• Reforms made by Lanfranc to the English Church

  1. Removal of common abuses of Canon Law: Simony, Pluralism, Nepotism and Clerical marriage

  2. Addition of Church councils (1075 Council of London) to allow all leading church figures to discuss church reforms

  3. Establishing the primacy of Canterbury over York to make it the head of the English church and subdue power from the North

  4. Bishops moved from rural areas to urban locations to allow more control over reforms

  5. Systematic church hierarchy with duty of overseeing changes and policing the localities

  6. Bishops allowed to hold synods, which were regular councils

  7. Separate Church courts were introduced
• Relationship between the Church and William II

  • William had showed no interest in the church or appointing a new archbishop after Lanfranc's death in 1089
  • William appointed Anselm in 1093, after Anselm succumbed to William and his magnates pressure
  • William saw the church as an institution to exploit for money and wealth
• What was the Council of Rockingham?

  • In Feb 1095, magnates held the council to discuss the issue
  • Anselm wanted to receive his pallium from Urban II, while also recognising him as Pope instead of Clement III
  • The magnates were insistent on Anselm complying with the King's wishes to allow the King to decide of his interests
  • William De St-Calais advised William II to depose Anselm - although for his gain to become archbishop
  • However, the magnates beliefs swayed to Anselm, realising his harsh treatment
• What was the outcome of Rockingham?

  • The council ended in deadlock
  • William entered secret negotiations with Urban II - William would recognise Urban II as Pope, in return for control of information to and from Rome
  • Anselm was not informed of these discussions, and despite receiving his pallium in May 1095, he was aware of William II's dislike of him
• Relationship between Anselm and William II after Rockingham

  1. William II kept rejecting Anselm's pleas to hold a reforming council to abolish corruption evident in the Church, including William's practices of selling church offices and leaving some vacant to rake revenue

  2. Anselm asked for permission to go to Rome

  3. William created an ultimatum for Anselm - if he went to Rome, his lands would be confiscated and he would not be recognised as Archbishop if he returned, if he stayed he would receive a fine and promise not to appeal to Rome again

  4. Anselm departed for Rome
• How was Anselm's arrival in Rome significant

  • With Anselm's arrival in Rome, a council in Bari in October 1098 highlighted William II's behaviour
  • The prospect of excommunication was talked about
  • However, Urban II could not excommunicate him due to his struggle against Clement III, he needed England's financial support (Peter's Pence tax)
• How was Anselm's relationship with Henry different from William II

  • Henry welcomed Anselm in 1100
  • Anselm provided good service to Henry: presiding over his marriage with Matilda and crowning her Queen; persuading many magnates to remain loyal to Henry after Robert's invasion in 1101
• How did Lay Investiture affect Henry?

  • Anselm brought these ideas from the council's of Cleremont and Bari in 1098 and Rome in 1099
  • A Bishop should not be dependent on his lay lord, but allegiance to the Church
  • This was a direct attack at the King's traditional rights as they appointed bishops and bishops were tenants-in-chief who owned land and owned knight-service
  • This was difficult for Henry as he needed a united church behind him to support his kingship
• Henry and Anselm's relationship after 1101 to 1103

  • September 1101 - Pope urges Henry to give up lay investiture
  • Easter 1102 - a mission sent to Rome, but with no solution
  • Autumn 1102 - Anselm allowed to hold reforming council showing Henry's favour in Church reform
  • Easter 1103 - Henry imposed pressure on Anselm to pay homage, as a result Anselm went into self-imposed exile
• How did Anselm's exile in 1103 increase tension

  • Anselm's departure brought greater intervention from the Pope
  • December 1104 - Paschal II sends Henry a letter that he may 'feel Christ's sword' if he carries on with lay investiture
  • March 1105 - Robert of Meulan is excommunicated, meaning Henry is next
  • August 1106 - A reconciliation between Anselm and Henry at Bec
• What did Henry and Anselm's reconciliation bring about

  • Henry agreed to give up his right of lay investiture, but retained the right to receive homage
  • Anselm arrived and the compromise was sanctioned at a church council in London in August 1107