Religion in late Anglo-Saxon England

The English did not always follow the church rules

• the individual character of the church with roman catholic and Celtic influences was reflected in the religion of the people

• many pagan beliefs and customs influenced their beliefs

• All of Europe used Latin in their religious services, however the English church chose to use English language

• They had influences from early Irish ideas

• The church was had strength to stand alone and be independent

• They criticized people's behaviour that they saw as sinful

• They also criticized spells and witchcraft, they believed in spells, goblins, elves and devils, magic rings have been found with spells in them

• Officially the pope was the only one who could make someone a saint

• However the English ignored this and made their own English saints

Corruption in the Church

• Stigand broke several church rules: he held multiple church positions at once (pluralism) and sold off church posts for money (simony) however kept his position because Harold Godwinson supported him, causing him to become very rich

• The pope was unhappy and thought that the English church was backward and that Stigand was corrupt so insisted that Stigand gave up one of his posts to which Stigand ignored

• English clergy were poorly educated compared to priests elsewhere in Europe and were still allowed to marry

St Dunstan

• Became archbishop of canterbury in 960 AD

• Insisted that priests could not marry

• Tried to make it a more efficient and organised version of what the church could be, bringing it more into line with European churches

• went on a vast campaign of rebuilding churches, abbeys  and monasteries

• Worked to end corruption and greed within church leaders