The ChurchStructure of the Roman Catholic Church in 16th C

The EpiscopacyGod The Pope

Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Bishops Archdeacons Rector

Curate

Two lay Churchwardens

Setup of Church in EMESplit into 2 provinces – each run by Archbishop

230 Districts – run by

Archdeacons

About 10,000 parishes – run

by Rectors (Vicars)

26 Dioceses (Sees) – run by

Bishops

Relationship btw Church and StatePope in charge of Church that spread right across EuropeChurch laws made in Convocation Reformation in EME after Henry VIII broke from Rome and took position as Head of ChurchState in EME = ALL things that enable govt to run – incl. ChurchMonarch claimed to rule by divine right – religious conformity and political loyalty were inseparable.Church taught that rebellion was a sin. Monarch ensured that doctrines of church supported opportunity for their subjects to gain salvation.

Also Monarch’s duties to enforce rules of the Church

Relationship cont…Church ensured obedience to the governmentDespite growth of belief in INDIVIDUAL responsibility for salvation – Church still imp.

E.g. beginning of parliament with prayer gave it religious authority

Church preached obedience to monarchAs God’s rep. on EarthMonarch both Lord Spiritual (Godly) Lord Temporal (Worldy)

EME = Confessional StateReligious faith established/enforced by govt

Powers of the ChurchPolitical

2 Archbishops were landed magnates (influential people)Sat in House of LordsFrequently Privy Councillors

EconomicMonasteries – before the Reformation had owned about 1/3rd of all land in EMEReceived tithes – tax on all households – 1/10th of annual income to support running of church

SocialReinforced ‘natural order’ of the universeMissionary purpose to instruct people in ways of GodChurch sessions were society in miniature – rich gentry at the front, poor in the back; women on one side; men on the other (Reay, 1985)

Why only ONE Church?Uneducated people tended to be conservative – any change in church would have been met with resistance in different forms

Grumbling and quiet refusalPilgrimage and protestArmed uprising

Feared that people would not accept more than one religion – could lead to conflict (and DID !)Most people prepared to die for ‘their version’ of Christianity – believed the wrong version could lead to hell – normal life was bad enough !

Monarch had to consider (when

choosing a religion)

England’s enemies were Catholic; so

any Catholics within could be

potential traitors (focus for plots

later on)

Catholic Popes were also powerful

princes – VERY involved in politics

of all Europe

Church carried out many administrative functions for the

govt and there might be a conflict of interest

Church influence on day-to-day life

All citizens were required to attend Church on Sundays and holy days – could be fined for not goingParish was centre of village community

Church often only large buildingEverybody used it – not just for Sunday servicesHoused the school (if there was one)Contained ‘village chest’ – where parishioners kept their valuablesChurch bells were the emergency sirensHelped the poor in villagesPattern of life (i.e. seasonal changes etc) linked closely to Church and religious events

E.g. End of winter and sense of rebirth shown in Easter celebrations. Gave people hope again

Church influence cont..Church court – essential to good order in the villageChurch sanctions intended to reform transgressors rather than punish

But they did punish MORAL lapses e.g. drinking; working on Sunday; gossiping; not paying tithesChurch condemnation may have been more powerful than secular punishment (hell worse than prison)Heresy (opinion against that of the Church) and treason – only two crimes where punishment worse than hanging was used

Church entertainmentFetes and festivalsOrganised plays and theatre groups; debates, art shows

Church’s REAL powerPower over the minds of peopleControlled knowledge prior to reformation

Universities were part of the ChurchAll books written in Latin until Elizabethan settlementFew people other than clergy were literateThose with other ideas (heretics) were suppressed e.g. Galileo in 1633 suggested Earth revolved around the Sun – he was forced under threat of torture to retract his ideas – even though they were right !

Most people were illiterate and believed in God and the Devil – Church most powerful thing in their lives

Gave them hope (heaven) and dread (hell)Offered means of control over daily tasks – able to pray ‘for’ things

Revision Q’sDefine the following terms

Episcopacy; Convocation; Confessional State ; Secular ; Conservative ; Tithe

Answer the following?1. Top position an Englishman could hope to achieve in

Elizabethan Church?2. What was main way Church strengthened a monarch’s

position?3. How were parish clergy also civil servants?4. How did Church help monarch keep order in England?5. How could Church hold back advances in science and

thinking?6. Why was choice of religion so imp. to people?

Revision A’sDefinitions

Church heirachy; Parliament of Chch; State where govt decides religious faith; Non-religious; Against change; church tax.

Questions1. Archbishop; 2. preached obedience to God’s rep on earth; 3. carried out aspects of govt in local parishes; 4. had its own court system; 5. could suppress ideas that went against its own teachings e.g Galileo; 6. wrong choice could lead to hell.