Norman Church and Monasticism

Influenced life in England 
- Rich and Powerful, especially in the government of the country 
- played big part in everyday life of villages and towns, collected taxes (tithes)

Organisation
- Archbishops of Canterbury (and York), incharge of church in his region
- ~ 15 bishops, in charge of area called diocese, making ssure village priests obeyed Church's law, properly carried out services
- abbeys, monasteries and convents housed by monks and nuns (abbots and abbesses)
- main task- pray, create tapesteries, teachers
- owned 25% of land
- archbishops and bishops members of Witan, acting as royal advisers 

Everyday Life
- Heaven and Hell were real places, depending on how religious they were and how they lived their life
- vital to worship God (pray regularly) and go to Church
-  no major work on Holy Days (Christmas, Easter) celebrated saints' days (time away from work)

Simony
- buying powerful positions in the Church

Nepotism
- positions in Church being given to relatives and friends

Pluralism
- clergy who held more than one important position 

Clerical Marriage 
- breaking the vow of celibacy, however marriage within the clergy was common

There were some good leaders in the English Church eg. Bishop Wulfstan, other didnt take it seriosuly
Corruption was prominent in the Church, eg. Stigand (Archbishop of Canterbury) was one of the richest man in England, was excommunicated

1970 Reforms - Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury
- Lanfranc replaced Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas of Bayeux replaced Ealdred (died in 1069) as Archbishop of York
- A-S Bishops and Archbishops replaced with Normans. 1980- only one left, Wulfstan

1970 Reforms - Church Organisation 
- local priests under control of central church bishops and archbishops, whom controlled a diocese, with a archdeacon
- diocese divided into archdeaconries, further divided into deaneries making sure Canon Law (religious rules) was being kept and priests were conducting themselves well
Bishop controls diocese > Archdeacon helps Bishop manage diocese > Dean in charge of deanery > Priest looks after church

1970 Reforms - Introducing...
- William II and Lanfranc made sure church leaders met in Synods (church councils). Eight were held between 1071-86.
- Church Courts seperate to Secular Courts, matters of Canon Law. Bishops responible for organisation within Dioceses 

- Born in Italy, lawyer before becoming a Benedictine Monk (following strict rule of St. Benedict) in Normandy. 
- first abbot of Abbey at Caen 1066
- very strict leader of Church

Lanfranc's Achievements 
- simony was challenged
- stricter obedience from England’s priests to the rules of the Church
- strong loyalty to both King William and to the Pope
- substitution of most English bishops with Norman clergy
- succession of William’s son, William Rufus, when the king died in 1087
- supremacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury over York
Primacy of Canterbury
- had to establish his own authority as head of Church of England, rival - Thomas, Archbishop of York
- both keen to establish primacy, Canterbury- traditional seat of in Church. But, corruption under Stigand ruined its reputation, York's AB Ealdred had crowned King William in 1066.
- In essence, Canterbury more powerful than York, Lanfranc appointed archbishop before Thomas, therefore he relied on Lanfranc to consecrate him, Lanfranc refused until he swore loyalty to him
-Thomas refused, William got involved and ordered Thomas to submit, 1072 - Thomas fully submitted to Lanfranc

Key Institutions 
- Bishoprics - authority or georgraphic area (diocsese) maaged by a bishop 
- Monasteries - monks and nuns devoted to faith, lived in isolated communities away from lay people (non religious), lived under Benedictine order, head was abbot
- Nunneries - headed by abbess, where women had freedom to choose their leader and were a community.

William II conflict with the Church
- Lanfranc appointed and crowned William Rufus 26 Sept 1087
- Powerful and effective but different attitude to Church. More interested in making money from the Church, they dissaproved of his morals.
- had no children, most certain that he was homosexual
- lifestyle and exploitation of Church led to resentment from them 

St William of Calais (Bishop of Duham)
- rebellion against Rufus in 1088, Bishop informed king and planned reinforcements to aid, but never returned with his troops, Rufus put him on trial for treason
- As member of Clergy, he argued to be tried under church (ecclesiastical) court not secular. Rufus refused, saying he broke Oath of Fealty to king, therefore should be tried under his court (Bishop of Odo had been tried for similar offence in 1982 in secular court)
- tiral in Nov 1988 in secular court at Salisbury, Guilty!
- Bishopric lost and exiled, allowed to return in 1091
Council of Rockingham 1095
- Rufus stopped Anselm travelling to Rome to get papal approvement for his appointment as archbishop
- Rufus refused Anselm getting a palium form Pope Urban II, as claimed by the church law to recieve, Rufus wanted to limit the popes influence
- They could not agree, so the council was called, truce was called ; messenger sent to Rome, asking for Anselm's Pallium
- presented to Anselm, King had been forced to accept Urban II as Pope, while he promised to stay out of English affairs under Rufus' rule. Did not stay Cordial for long. Anselms attempts for reforms blocked, reluctant to pay extra taxes to provide knights, exiled in 1097.
- King proffited from empty position in Church.

Before 
- Pope was Head of Church, Church was high in Hierarchy, obeying Pope over King
After
- King controlled communication between leaders of English Church and Pope in Rome, therefore influencing info that Church had access to
- King had control of who was appointed to English Church eg. replaced Archbishops like Stigand, replaced with Normans like Lanfranc and Thomas
- strengthening Williams control and important to stopping rebellions like in the North
- William had final word in disputes eg Primacy, meaning he controlled most important positions, increasing his control
-  Parish priests - number increased, control of messages passed to public eg. God favoured William and Normans.
- The priests were under strict rule of the Church, following Norman procedures and customs or lost their jobs and lands
Church Buildings - Romanesque
- Normans used it more extensively than Edward the Confessor.
- form of intimidation, built on top of hills for prominence eg Durham Cathedral
- Large and magnificent and built in shape of cross, showing strength of Norman religious faith

Investiture
The authority to appoint local church officials such as bishops of cities and abbots of monasteries

Rufus brought back practice of Simony 
- outlawed by Lanfranc in 1070s
- Rufus sold bishopric of thetford to Herbert Losinga for 1000 marks
- Rufus' key ally, Ranulf Flambard was popular with Rufus and unpopular with clergy
- Rufus rewarded Flambard by making him Bishop of Durham for £1000