The Normanisation of the English Church

This section looks at the Normanisation of the English Church under Archbishop Lanfranc. After William of Normandy’s successful conquest of England in 1066, one of his key objectives was to consolidate his control over both the country’s political and religious spheres. Given the significant role that the Church played in everyday life, William knew that aligning the Church with Norman authority was crucial for establishing his long-term rule. The Church had always been an important part of English society, dating back to the Roman occupation, and the people of England had been Christians for centuries. However, William believed that the Church in England needed to be restructured, bringing it under the influence of the Norman rulers. A key figure in this transformation was Lanfranc, who was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Church in Anglo-Saxon England

Before the Normans arrived, England’s churches were often modest in size and construction. Many were small wooden buildings that served the local communities, especially in rural villages. Even in urban areas, churches were generally small, with several scattered around towns like Norwich, each serving different districts rather than forming large centralised places of worship. This contrasted sharply with the grand stone structures built by the Normans after the Conquest.

While Anglo-Saxon Christianity had flourished for centuries, the arrival of the Normans heralded a shift in both the architecture and organisation of the English Church. The Normans were keen to demonstrate their authority over both secular and religious matters, and they achieved this through the construction of larger, more impressive churches and cathedrals.

The Normanisation of Church Architecture

The Normans brought with them a distinctive style of architecture, heavily influenced by their own building traditions in Normandy. One of the most significant changes was the widespread construction of stone churches and basilicas—large, monumental buildings that could accommodate hundreds of worshippers at once. These basilicas were built in key cities like London, Durham, and York, and were an outward symbol of the Norman's enduring power in England. The buildings were typically made of stone, unlike the smaller wooden churches of the Anglo-Saxons, and often featured large rounded arches and detailed religious paintings inside, which visually emphasised the Church’s importance.

This shift from small, local churches to grand, stone basilicas reflected the Normans' desire to create a visible symbol of their spiritual and political authority over England. These churches were not just places of worship but also served as the centres of power, where key religious leaders were appointed, and important legal and administrative matters were handled.

Lanfranc’s Reforms of the English Church

Lanfranc, born in Italy and originally trained as a lawyer, was appointed by William I as the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1070. Prior to this, Lanfranc had been a leading Benedictine monk and the abbot of the Abbey of Caen in Normandy. His appointment was part of William’s wider strategy to bring England’s Church under Norman control, replacing many of the Anglo-Saxon clergy with Normans loyal to him and the Pope. Lanfranc was known for his strictness and his firm belief in upholding the authority of the Church.

Key Reforms Introduced by Lanfranc

• Addressing Simony and Celibacy: One of Lanfranc’s first priorities was to tackle the issues of simony (the buying and selling of Church positions) and celibacy. Simony had become a widespread problem in the Anglo-Saxon Church, where positions of power, such as bishoprics, were sometimes sold to the highest bidder. Lanfranc worked hard to eliminate this practice and ensure that Church positions were given to those who were truly qualified, rather than bought. He also enforced the rule of celibacy for the clergy, a practice that had often been ignored in the past. Lanfranc's reforms aimed to restore the moral integrity of the Church and strengthen its authority.
• Stricter Clerical Discipline: Lanfranc introduced stricter obedience from the English clergy to Church rules, ensuring that priests adhered more closely to the teachings and traditions of the Roman Church. This meant enforcing uniformity in religious practices, including the conduct of services and the observance of fasting and other religious rituals.
• Loyalty to King William and the Pope: Lanfranc made sure that the clergy in England were loyal not only to the Pope but also to King William. By reinforcing the king’s control over the Church, Lanfranc helped solidify William’s authority in both religious and secular matters. The close relationship between the Crown and the Church was a hallmark of Norman rule and was vital to maintaining order in the newly-conquered kingdom.
• Normanisation of the Episcopacy: Lanfranc was instrumental in replacing many of the Anglo-Saxon bishops with Normans. This was part of a broader strategy to ensure that the English Church was firmly aligned with Norman interests. In the aftermath of the Conquest, William and Lanfranc appointed Norman bishops to key sees across England, further consolidating Norman control over the Church.
• Succession and Continuity: Following the death of William in 1087, Lanfranc played a key role in ensuring the smooth succession of William Rufus, William's son, to the throne. The Church, under Lanfranc’s guidance, supported William Rufus’ claim to the throne, ensuring that the monarchy remained strong and that the power of the Church continued to reinforce the rule of the kings of England.
• Primacy of Canterbury: One of Lanfranc's key achievements was securing the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the Archbishop of York. This was a long-standing issue in English ecclesiastical politics, and Lanfranc’s efforts in the 1070s ensured that Canterbury became the leading archbishopric in England, consolidating its authority over the Church. Lanfranc's victory in this matter was crucial in maintaining the unity of the Church in England under Norman rule.

Lanfranc’s Distant Relationship with the English People

Despite his success in reforming the English Church, Lanfranc was never fully embraced by the Anglo-Saxon population. He often referred to himself as a “novice Englishman,” suggesting that he always felt somewhat distant from the people he was meant to serve. This was likely due to his foreign origins and the general resistance that many English people felt towards the Norman rulers. Lanfranc’s strictness and his frequent absenteeism from England meant that he was not as directly involved in the daily life of the English Church as some might have liked. Nonetheless, his reforms were crucial in shaping the structure and authority of the Church in Norman England.

Conclusion

The Normanisation of the English Church was a critical element in the consolidation of Norman power after the Conquest. Under Archbishop Lanfranc, the Church was reorganised to strengthen both its religious and political role in England. Through the introduction of reforms, including the elimination of simony, the enforcement of clerical celibacy, and the replacement of Anglo-Saxon bishops with Normans, Lanfranc helped to align the Church with Norman interests. The construction of grand Norman churches and basilicas further symbolised the Church's authority and the establishment of the Norman order in England. Although Lanfranc's relationship with the English people remained somewhat distant, his work laid the foundation for the enduring power of the Church in England throughout the medieval period.