Powerful, stable and popular
Second largest landowner next to the King
Pope had no control over how the church was run day-to-day
Pope had spiritual authority to determine how people worshipped and how the church doctrine was to be understood.
Sent taxes to Rome
Canon law (Church law) was decided by the pope
Monarchs of the Christendom swore obedience to the Pope
Rulers were anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at their coronation
Church Courts exercised rights to try religious matters
Abbots and Bishops sat in the house of Lords with the right to determine secular legislation
Monks and Nuns provided help for the sick, poor and Educate
Religion was how people understood the world
Eternal life was more important than time spent on earth
Purgatory, the seven sacraments and Transubstantiation was key to christian life
Masses for the dead
Gifts to the church
Memberships to guilds (groups of people who paid in to be remembered and prayed for)
Pilgrimages
Acquisition of indulgences
Holy relics

Several thousands parishes, 35,000 priests, 40 Bishops
Secular Church was part of the church that consists of Parish priests who worked in the community

	Created by Mia Beech about 7 years ago

AS level History (Tudors - Religious Conflict and the Church in England) Note on Role of the Church 1529, created by Mia Beech on 26/03/2017.