What was the role of the Church in people’s lives?

How many similarities did you find between life in the countryside and life in towns? In both places disease was common and life expectancy was low. Inequality was also a major feature of life in towns and villages. In towns, rich merchants could earn large sums of money, while labourers struggled to survive. In the countryside, peasants faced a life of hardship, while barons and earls had land, wealth and power. The one major similarity was the importance of the Church in people’s lives. People believed that God controlled every part of their lives. God made them healthy or ill, and determined whether there would be a good harvest. God also decided whether a person went to heaven or hell – so pleasing God in your daily life was very important. Everyone was expected to go to church on Sundays and holy days.

The role of the priest

In nearly every village there was a church and a priest. The priest was one of the most important people in the village. He helped the poor and elderly and taught some children to read and write. In return the villagers paid him a tithe (a tenth of all their crops every year). Priests were meant to help people live good lives so that they would go to Heaven. It was believed that the most important thing to do to…