Parish Priests and Their People in the Middle Ages in England

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

42180

Title

Parish Priests and Their People in the Middle Ages in England

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Rev. Edward L. Cutts offers a scholarly yet accessible history of English parish priests from the Anglo-Saxon era through the Reformation. Drawing on British Museum manuscripts, this work illuminates medieval religious life, clerical duties, and the evolving relationship between clergy and laity.

Summary up to 500 words

Edward Lewes Cutts's *Parish Priests and Their People in the Middle Ages in England* offers a comprehensive reconstruction of the English church from the Anglo-Saxon conversion to the Reformation. Drawing extensively from primary sources housed in the British Museum, including manuscripts and contemporary illustrations, Cutts illuminates the lives, customs, and struggles of medieval clergy. The narrative traces the transition from pagan temples to Christian cathedrals and details the organization of dioceses and parishes. It explores the evolving social standing of the priesthood, noting a shift from an elite Saxon clergy to a more accessible career open to all classes, including serfs. The book vividly depicts the material culture of the church, examining parsonage houses, clerical vestments, and church furniture, often supported by photographic reproductions of illuminations. Cutts addresses critical themes such as clerical celibacy, the abuse of patronage, absenteeism, and the rivalry between parish priests and monastic orders like the friars. The text provides a rigorous economic analysis of the priesthood, utilizing records like the *Taxatio* and *Valor Ecclesiasticus* to analyze income sources such as tithes, oblations, and fees for services like weddings and burials. Through chapters on popular religion, gilds, and chantries, the work paints a picture of a society deeply intertwined with its faith. It highlights both the spiritual devotion and the human imperfections of the medieval church, revealing the complex reality of a system where clergy managed finances, cared for the sick, preached, and administered sacraments amidst significant social and economic pressures. The book serves as an essential resource for understanding the intimate connection between the clergy and the laity in medieval England.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• History