Dissolution of the monasteries - Reform to the Church

Background and Process of Dissolution of the Monasteries

How manya abbeys and monasteries did England and scotland have?

England was heavily populated with over 800 abbeys and monasteries, with more than 100 in Scotland

What demographics did the monostaries have an effect on?

They played a central role in the lives of both rich and poor people

What were the main functions of monasteries?

The main functions of monasteries included:

• Monks said prayers and Masses for the souls of the dead to help them through purgatory

  → Henry VII had 10,000 Masses said for his soul after his death

• They were major landowners and provided employment on farms

• Served as centres of arts and learning, producing illuminated manuscripts, carvings, paintings, and music

What were thw 4 monastic orders?

Benedictines

Cistercians

Carthusians

Other orders: Carmelites (White Friars), Dominicans (Black Friars), Franciscans (Grey Friars)

Benedictines

Largest and richest order

Cistercians

A simpler, more austere order known for sheep farming

Carthusians

The strictest order, with houses called Charterhouses

The Process Leading to Dissolution

Where could the beginning of the dissolution be traced to?

The process of dissolution can be traced back to the compilation of the Valor Ecclesiasticus

What was the Valor Ecclesiasticus?

• A survey set up by Cromwell in 1535 to discover exactly how wealthy the Church was

• This was a census of the Church’s wealth, assessing the total value of church lands and property, which the Crown could potentially seize to increase revenue

How could the cencus be seen a s push towards the dissolutions?

• It provided Cromwell with a broadly accurate measure of the Church’s resources, which the Crown could potentially seize

What were the beginning stage of using the census as a justifiable bean to dissolve the monisteries?

• The next stage involved gathering evidence to justify the dissolution of the monasteries

• Four ‘visitors’ were sent across the country to inspect all monastic institutions

What was the poin of these visitations?

These visitations aimed to assess the spiritual health and moral conduct of monasteries, but they also looked for corruption and weaknesses

What were the findings form these inspections?

Their findings often included criticism of monasteries, though some, like the more conscientious visitor Tregonwell, praised the holiness and conscientiousness of the monks

What did the findings justify?

Evidence collected by the visitors justified the passing of an Act of Parliament in 1536 to dissolve the smaller monasteries (those with an income of under £200 per annum)

When was the act justified?

1536

What did the act aim to do?

The Act aimed to reform monastic life by closing down less reputable, smaller houses, claiming this would improve standards and morality

What casued the scope of the dissolution to widened?

The scope of dissolution widened after the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536), a rebellion in the North, which was partly a reaction to these closures

What was Cromwells supposed aim with the monstaries?

Cromwell’s aim was likely to eliminate the monasteries once the softening-up process had taken effect, paving the way for full dissolution

What other act affecting monasteries was passed and when?

• In 1539, an Act was passed to dissolve the remaining larger monasteries

• By March 1540, all of the remaining religious houses had been dissolved, marking a complete end to monastic life in England

Impact and Aftermath

How were the monasteries taken down?

The process was destructive: lead roofs were removed, windows smashed, and contents looted, leaving many sites as ruins with only walls and empty windows remaining

What was the symbolism of the dissolution of the monasteries?

The dissolution marked a significant transformation in religious, social, and economic life in England, ending centuries of monastic influence

How many houses were dissolved and how many monks were let go?

The wealth of the monasteries was transferred to the Crown, with 563 houses dissolved and approximately 8,000 monks pensioned off

How much did the crown gain from the dissolution?

• Crown income from these lands doubled from £120,000 to around £250,000 annually

• The resale value of monastic land stood at about £1.3 million