IMC 2003: Sessions
Session 1213: Power, Authority and the Parochial Clergy in Late Medieval England
Wednesday 16 July 2003, 14.15-15.45
| Sponsor: | University of Huddersfield |
|---|---|
| Organiser: | Patricia Cullum, Department of History, University of Huddersfield |
| Moderator/Chair: | Katherine J. Lewis, Department of History, University of Huddersfield |
| Paper 1213-a | Keeping it in the Family: Power and Persuasion in the Parish (Language: English) Index terms: Daily Life, Ecclesiastical History, Lay Piety, Social History |
| Paper 1213-b | 'I Know what you did Last Summer': Knowledge as Power among Parochial Clergy in Later Medieval England (Language: English) |
| Paper 1213-c | Sir Piers Legh (d. 1529) Knight and Priest: The Appeal of the Priesthood (Language: English) Index terms: Lay Piety, Mentalities, Religious Life, Social History |
| Abstract | Parish clergy are often thought to be figures of authority within the late medieval English parish, to have authority over their lay parishioners but it is clear that that authority was often limited by the power that lay people had as patrons, not only of the benefice but more particularly over the lower levels of parochial clergy as employers of chantry or stipendiary priests. Relations could be even more complicated where local clergy were themselves related to parishioners. Yet despite this it is clear that the image of the priest remained an ideal even among the knightly community. The session explores these complications of power and authority. |