Lanfranc's reforms
I can describe the most important reforms carried out by Lanfranc.
Lanfranc's reforms
I can describe the most important reforms carried out by Lanfranc.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Stigand was deposed and Lanfranc introduced as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1070.
- Lanfranc's reforms aimed to reduce corruption, and to modernise and re-organise the English Church.
- Lanfranc secured primacy for Canterbury over the English Church.
- Lanfranc's reforms involved the replacement of Anglo-Saxon prelates with Normans.
- Lanfranc's reforms included the separation of Church cases from secular courts.
Keywords
Pluralist - someone who holds more than one position within the Church
Clergy - members of the Church who have been ordained, which means they are permitted to carry out religious services
Primacy - the state of being most important
Diocese - an area under the control of a bishop
Common misconception
Lanfranc's reforms introduced new concepts like celibacy for monks, Benedictine rules for monasteries and separate courts for the Church (or even archdeacons).
All these were already present in Anglo-Saxon England - monasteries had been following the laws of St Benedict for centuries, for example - but Lanfranc revitalised them, ensured that they were carried out and repurposed them to boost Norman control.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
the act of holding more than one position within the Church
important posts going to people because of close relationships
important posts being sold to wealthy men instead of deserving men