The Church Structure of the Roman Catholic Church in 16 th C

The Episcopacy

Setup of Church in EME Split 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 State Pope in charge of Church that spread right across Europe Church laws made in Convocation Reformation in EME after Henry VIII broke from Rome and took position as Head of Church State in EME = ALL things that enable govt to run – incl. Church Monarch 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 government Despite 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 monarch As God’s rep. on Earth Monarch both Lord Spiritual (Godly) Lord Temporal (Worldy) EME = Confessional State Religious faith established/enforced by govt

Powers of the Church Political 2 Archbishops were landed magnates (influential people) Sat in House of Lords Frequently Privy Councillors Economic Monasteries – before the Reformation had owned about 1/3 rd of all land in EME Received tithes – tax on all households – 1/10 th of annual income to support running of church Social Reinforced ‘natural order’ of the universe Missionary purpose to instruct people in ways of God Church 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 refusal Pilgrimage and protest Armed 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 going Parish was centre of village community Church often only large building Everybody used it – not just for Sunday services Housed the school (if there was one) Contained ‘village chest’ – where parishioners kept their valuables Church bells were the emergency sirens Helped the poor in villages Pattern 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 village Church sanctions intended to reform transgressors rather than punish But they did punish MORAL lapses e.g. drinking; working on Sunday; gossiping; not paying tithes Church 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 entertainment Fetes and festivals Organised plays and theatre groups; debates, art shows

Church’s REAL power Power over the minds of people Controlled knowledge prior to reformation Universities were part of the Church All books written in Latin until Elizabethan settlement Few people other than clergy were literate Those 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’s Define 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’s Definitions Church heirachy; Parliament of Chch; State where govt decides religious faith; Non-religious; Against change; church tax. Questions 1. Archbishop; 2. preached obedience to God’s rep on earth; 3. carried out aspects of govt in local parishes; 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.