Chapter 3: The Norman Church and monasticism

Bishop

Bishop

An advisor and a mentor to priests.

Blaspheming

Speaking ill of God.

Celibacy

Being unmarried and sexually abstinent.

Clergy

The group of religious people (monks, nuns, priests etc.).

Consecrated

To be officially given a role such as Arch bishop or priest through a special religious ceremony.

Excommunication

To be excluded from communion and prayers in the church - it did not mean the person was expelled from the church.

Lay investiture

The appointment of religious officials (commonly bishops) by secular subjects.

Pallia/pallium (plural)

A woollen vestment consisting of a band a round the shoulders with a band hanging from it front and back. The Pope gave these to a arch bishops to confirm his approval of their appointment.

Papacy

The office or authority of the Pope.

Parish

A village or part of a town which has its own church and priest.

Hierarchy

a system in which members of society are ranked according to relative status or authority.

Primacy

Who held the highest rank in the English Church.

Romanesque

Architecture combining features of ancient Roman and Byzantine buildings.

Secular

non-religous

Surplice fees

Fees paid to priests for carrying out ceremonies.

Simony

When positions in the church were sold.

Synods

A council of a church which gathers to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.

Abbot/Abbess

The male/female head of a monastery.

Almoner

An officer responsible for distributing alms (clothing, money, food etc) to the poor connected to the church.

Benedictine

An order of monks founded at Monte Cassino by St. Benedict a bout AD 530.

Cluniacs

A monk of the Cluniac order (of the reformed Benedictine monasteries)

Habit

A long, loose garment worn by a monk or a nun.

Liturgy

The customary public worship of a religious group, i.e. church services.

Monasticism

The religious way of life practiced by monks or nuns - renouncing worldly pursuits and devoting themselves to spiritual work in a monastery.

Monastic orders

Rules followed by monks or nuns governing their life together, for example, the rule of St Benedict.

Monks

a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Novices

A person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows.

Nuns

A member of a religious community of women, typically one living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Obedientaries

One of the minor officials in a medieval monastery appointed by the abbot.

Prior/Prioress

A man/woman who is in charge of a priory or who is second in charge of an abbey.

Sacrist

A person who looks after a church and churchyard, typically acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger.

Scriptorium

A room set apart for writing, especially one in a monastery where manuscripts were copied.

Tonsure

A part of a monk's or priest's head left bare on top by shaving off the hair.

Vernacular

The native language of a place (e.g. in England, English).

Chastity

The state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.

Papal banner

A flag given by the Pope to show that a mission had his, and therefore, God's blessing.