The church had a significant influence on everyday life in medieval England. Missionaries first arrived in the 6th century to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, and by the 7th century most of England claimed to be Christian, though many still held pagan beliefs. The church was involved in politics and imposed taxes on its members to fund church operations and aid the poor. While some women could work as nuns performing manual labor, church leaders also portrayed certain scriptures as degrading to women. The church taught that following its rules was the only way to gain entry to heaven, and people paid tithes and fees for sacraments. However, some priests did not properly follow the church's rules themselves. There was also

1. Lindsey Richards & Jordan Musser

2. • 596: Missionaries arrived in England and tried
to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
• 650: Most of England claims to be
Christian, but many hold on to their pagan
beliefs.
• The church affected every part of life.

3. • The church leaders were involved in politics through
which they gained immense power over the people.
• The church imposed „taxes‟ or tithes on its members.
• Because the church was under the power and law of God, its members
followed its laws closely. Breaking a law could result in punishment or
expulsion from the church.
• Tithes were usually paid with goods instead of money, and they were
used to fund the church and give to the poor.

4. • Leaders of the church portrayed
certain scriptures from the Bible to be
degrading to women by taking them
out of context.
• Woman could work in the church as
nuns
• They did manual labor and chores
• Some nuns from wealthier
backgrounds were given lighter
chores

5. • Preached that God, Heaven, and Hell all existed
• Taught that the way to Heaven was through the church
• People had to pay for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• They paid 10% of what was earned each year to the church
(tithes)
• People were taught that if they did not pay their 10% they would burn in
Hell

6. • Many leaders in the church did not
follow the rules that were expected
of them.
• Some priests were illiterate and did
not know how to perform many of
the services. Many engaged in
marriages and other relations
although their laws forbid it.

7. • One major conflict between the church and the government
(1162):
• King Henry II attempted to impose royal laws over the church. Thomas á
Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, opposed these laws and was enraged
that the king was forcing them upon him and the church. Some of his
words or rage were taken literally, and he was murdered by four of the
kings knights. He was murdered while praying in Canterbury Cathedral.
The shocked community built a shrine in the church, to which many
Roman Catholics were encouraged to make a pilgrimage.

8. • It was believed that the more elaborate the
architecture of a church, the more they
were praising God.
• Medieval churches are well made, because
they employed skilled workers to build
them instead of peasants.
• Gothic was the main architectural style.
• Stained glass windows were small but were
used to tell stories from the Bible.

9. • “The Church in Midieval Life.” http://library.thinkquest.org. Oracle
Education Foundation, n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/lochurch.html>.
• Literature. Columbus, Ohio: Glencoe, 2004. Print. 3 Nov. 2011.
• “The Medieval Church.” http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk.
N.p., 2011. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_church.htm>.
• “Middle Ages Religion.” http://www.middle-ages.org.uk. N.p., n.d.
Web. 2 Nov. 2011. <http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-
religion.htm>.