Religion - Function of the Church

Function of the Church

Function of the Church

• Theoretically all English people belonged to the Catholic Church and were under the jurisdiction of the Pope in Rome

• Church provided the focus of entertainment

• Church made it easier for the social and political elites to maintain social control through its encouragement of good behaviour

• Provided employment and the opportunity to advance themselves socially through the attainment of high office in Church and State

The political role of the Church

• Significant in both international relations and in domestic matters

• Highest role in the Church was held by the Pope

• However the king was firmly in control and popes were generally eager to grant the demandsof the king

• The papacy didn’t object to how Henry used the Church’s wealth to reward other churchmen in high political offices

How the English Church was administered

• Administered through two provinces - Canterbury and York

• Each under the jurisdiction of an archbishop each under the control of a bishop

• It was common in the late 15th century for senior churchment to enjoy positions of significant influence and power within the kingdom

Clergy

• Common for senior clergy to participate at a high level in the political process

• The two churchmen who exercised the most power under Henry VII were John Morton and Richard Fox