Churches By: Tia

Middle Age Churches The Roman Catholic Church was the single, largest unifying structure in medieval Europe With an exception of a small number of Jews, everyone in Europe was a Christian during the Middle Ages Church accepted gifts of all kinds from individuals who wanted special favors or wanted to be certain of a place in heaven Gifts included: land, flocks, crops, and even serfs Church also collected taxes Church became very powerful and often used this power to influence kings to do as it wanted because of taxes and gifts it received Priests looked after the people in their parishes Friars traveled around preaching –Friars; member of a brotherhood of priests who traveled around preaching and teaching people the Christian faith Dead were buried in churchyard Churchyards were used for ‘church ales’ –Church ales; noisy, drunken community parties held to raise money for a good cause Cathedrals were built in city centers Large churches where bishop (very senior priest) had his throne Bishops, city leaders, architects and builders tried to build the most beautiful cathedrals to glorify God and increase their city’s prestige Churches did not approve of divorces –Rich could pay lawyers to persuade the Church to cancel a first marriage

The Pope Pope; head of Church Pope is God’s representative on earth –Pope has a great amount of power to influence kings and their advisors Pope could excommunicate (ban) anyone who went against the Church –Would go straight to Hell when they died Under Pope, are bishops –Bishops; rule the lower classes of priest in the same manner that an earl would rule his vassals

The Parish Church Was the center of every town Generally was largest building in town and had stained glass windows and statues that told stories from the Bible to the villagers who, for the most part could not read A newborn infant would be baptized here and enter into a union with God Couples exchanged wedding vows and final prayers for the dead would all be said in this Church People would come pray to God for help when crops failed or someone fell ill Every villager went to a Church service in Latin (which they didn’t understand) and a sermon (which they did understand), every Sunday Parish Priest; parish Church overseer –Duties; to teach Christian gospel to his parishioners and help their lives be lived by God’s laws People came to give praise to God for the good things in their lives (on Holy Days)

Pilgrimages Pilgrimages; journeys made to held special religious sacrifices Was a shrine; where a saint was buried or a visit to the Holy Land itself Pilgrimages were long and sometimes dangerous Everyone (almost) traveled on foot Bandits and pirates waited for the unarmed pilgrims Knowing the consequences, people made these journeys anyway because they felt prayers to a saint’s tomb were very powerful A relative might promise to make a pilgrimage if a loved one fell ill and got better Someone might go to show they were sorry for their sins

Monks and Nuns Monks were men Nuns were women Many people devoted their lives to being closer to God and doing the Church’s work because religion was very important during the Middle Ages Parents promised their children to the religion life to fulfill a promise to God Also to ensure their children were never homeless or starved Became monks or nuns Lived apart from the rest of the people in special communities called monasteries and nunneries Monks and nuns make a promise to be single, to be obedient to their supierors and to live a life or prayer Seven main Church services a day; first at dawn & last in the middle of the night

Middle Age Church Priests looked after the people in their parishes Friars traveled around preaching Dead were buried in churchyard Churchyards were used for ‘church ales’ Cathedrals were built in city centers Large churches where bishop (very senior priest) had his throne Bishops, city leaders, architects and builders tried to build the most beautiful cathedrals to glorify God and increase their city’s prestige Churches did not approve of divorces Rich could pay lawyers to persuade the Church to cancel a first marriage