Chapter 1 The Church in 1529 Flashcards
1
Q
Church teachings on monarchical authority
1529
A
- Church law known as canon law
- Pope acted as arbiter
- Taught obedience to the monarch but the pope had the power to excommunicate
- Interpretation of canon law depended on the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
- Church had authority not only over clergy but the whole population
- People had to go to church
- Could be tried and sentenced in the church courts
- Henry was dependant on the church as a means of social control
- King was personally unknown whereas the church was the centre of every parish and every parishoner knew the priest
- Many were illiterate but the law of the land could be reinforced through the church
2
Q
Wealth of the Church
1529
A
- Church collected church taxes
- Significant number of clergy held more than one parish allowing them to accumulate income from several lands
- estimated £4500 per year went to Rome in the 1520s, Henry was ammassing £12,500 per year
- Ordinary people also paid taxes to the church, an annual tax of one penny to rome and the annual tithe, ten percent of what they earned or produced
- Communities were also served by monastic houses which had great wealth and political power
- Individual monks had to swear a vow of poverty but the institutions were very rich
- The gentry would often give the monasteries gifts
3
Q
The Church courts
1529
A
- Could fine an individual for non-attendance at church and for breaking the 10 commandmens
- Slander and adultery brought before church courts
- Those found guilty could be imprisoned but only executed for the charge of heresy
- What was most feared was excommunication as an individual would be excluded from all church related events and practices
- Courts also used for proving wills as they would be dictated to a priest before the person died
4
Q
Parish churches
1529
A
- divided into areas where the laity could go and where the clergy could go
- high alter decorared with handings and lit with candles, used for masses on a Sunday and holy days
- During the week side alters would be used, often saying prayers for the dead
- Some joined a guild so that mass would be said for their soul at key times
- Generally churches were at the physical centre of the parish
- The buildings could accomodate both people and animals in times of severe weather
5
Q
Monasteries
A
- Modern name for religious houses, would probably have been referred to as a priory, abbey or a nunnery
- More than 850 in 1509
- Places of prayer and learning
- Helped the poor and the sick
- Forefront of medical knowledge
- Proviced education to the sons of the nobility and gentry
- Monastic land was very important to the country’s economy
- Major producers of wool, sheep, iron and always i,proving methods of production
