The Anglo-Saxon Church

What role was played by the Church in Anglo-Saxon times?

The Church in Anglo-Saxon England was the Roman Catholic Church. Although there were lots of changes to the Church at this time, the Anglo-Saxon Church tended to stick to its familiar, traditional ways.

Who were bishops in the Anglo-Saxon Church?

Bishops ran large areas of the Church.

• ❖ They were often rich and powerful men.
• ❖ They might serve on the Witan.
• ❖ They sometimes clashed with thegns who built their own churches, as they wanted to keep control of priests and parishes.

Who were the priests in the Anglo-Saxon Church?

Priests worked in local churches.

• ❖ They were often just ordinary members of the community.
• ❖ They were often married, despite the Church's teachings on celibacy.
• ❖ They were often not very well-educated, and could not read Latin.

What were monasteries in the Anglo-Saxon Church?

Some Anglo-Saxons lived together in religious communities. These were known as monks and nuns, and lived in monasteries, abbeys and nunneries, run by abbots and abbesses.

How did the monasteries change in the Anglo-Saxon Church?

In 1060, the religious communities in Anglo-Saxon England were undergoing some changes.

• ❖ In Anglo-Saxon England, monasteries were in decline.
• ❖ Many Anglo-Saxon monasteries played a role in the local community, rather than staying separate and isolated.
• ❖ Because monasteries needed land, they had to rely on nobles to grant it to them. This led to complaints that the monasteries were under too much secular control.

How did the Saxon Church affect the lives of Anglo-Saxons?

Religion played an important role in the lives of Anglo-Saxons.

• ❖ People were worried about what would happen when they died. The Church taught that sinful people were punished in the afterlife.
• ❖ They believed that God would punish sinful individuals or countries.

How did the Church affect the Anglo-Saxon king?

The king was seen as an agent of God, and his behaviour was expected to reflect this. For example, Edward the Confessor built Westminster Abbey.