1. Imagine you are here.
What would you;
See
Hear
Touch
Taste
Feel
What does this painting reveal about the power of religion in the middle ages?

2. How did the church change under the Normans?
Learning outcomes:
Explain the importance of religion in the Norman period.
Investigate the criticisms of the Anglo-Saxon church and the role of Archbishop Lanfranc in Norman reforms.
Assess the impact of the reforms on the lives of priests and ordinary people.

3. Think about the power of the church.
Before 1066 the English church was quite isolated from religion in Europe.
William I disliked the English church and believed it was corrupt. He promised that after his invasion he would reform the church. This meant the Pope supported his invasion!
William had 4 main criticisms of the church;
Pluralism
Simony
Nepotism
Clerical marriage
Why would it be so important for William I to change the church?
Think about the power of the church.
Church was single biggest landowner in England, by 1086 it owned ¼ of the land in England!
It grew even more wealthy from rents, people leaving land when they died (in the hope of going to heaven), the collection of the tithe and other taxes such as Easter dues, surplice fees.

4. Establishes synods – church councils to spread the message of reform.
Moves church buildings to bigger towns and cities to centralise the church.
Establishes a new church hierarchy so clergy were answerable to the person above.
Grows the importance of the parish priest.
Officially ends marriage amongst the clergy.
Establishes church law courts to deal with clergy and spiritual offences.
William also begins a big building programme on cathedrals across the country.
So what did William do?
William appoints his friend Archbishop Lanfranc to carry out reforms. Lanfranc had been a monk in France and had opened a monastic school. William appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury in Between 1070 – 76 he brings in various reforms.

5. Your task… What was William’s main motive for reform? Power? Religion?
What impact do you think the changes had on ordinary people? Parish priests?
Which change had the most impact?
Investigate the Norman reforms of the church using pages 56 – 59 in the Hodder textbook.