Medieval Church Notes

The Medieval Church

Central Institution

• The Catholic Church was a central institution in western Christendom during the Middle Ages.

• It amassed wealth as the largest landowner in Europe.

• People paid a tenth of their income to the Church as a "tithe".

• Churchmen dominated education and learning.

• Bishops and abbots advised kings and emperors.

• The Pope had the power to excommunicate rulers.

• The Church had a powerful propaganda machine through its parishes.

Church Jurisdiction

• The Church had exclusive jurisdiction over incest, adultery, bigamy, usury, oaths, matrimonial cases, and legitimacy of children, according to Canon Law.

Alternative Focus

• The Church formed an alternative focus of loyalty.

• Clergy members had immunity from secular courts and looked to church leaders.

Role in Medieval England

• The Church dominated life in Medieval England.

• People believed Heaven and Hell existed and the Church was the only way to get to heaven.

• Peasants worked for free on church land and paid tithes (10% of earnings).

• Tithes were paid in money or goods like seeds and grain.

• The Church received fees for baptisms, marriages, and burials.

• The Church paid no taxes, making it wealthier than the King.