1. How important was the Medieval Church?
L/O:: I can explain why the church was so important in the Middle Ages using sources of information
Starter Task: Stick this image in your books-
Label/ annotate the image- what can you see? (Level 3)
1) Describe what you can see in this source of evidence. (Level 4)
2) What does this image tell you about Medieval ideas? Explain your ideas. (Level 5)
3) Challenge: Use examples from the image to explain what message this was giving to Medieval people. (Level 6)

3. Challenge- Now try the questions on the board using your ideas
Label the picture below- use the key words below to help explain your ideas:
Hints:
Saints
Ladder
Heaven
Hell
God
Challenge- Now try the questions on the board using your ideas

4. The importance of the parish church
The parish church was the centre of village life. People went there nearly every day.
Villagers went there to pick up news.
Markets, festivals and games were held here.
People had lessons with the priest.
Criminals could seek sanctuary in a church.
People believed strongly in heaven and hell. They hoped that by going to church they’d get to heaven.
The things going on in and around the church often entertained and amused people as villagers’ lives could be quite dull!
How is this similar or different from today?

5. The Structure of the Church

6. The image comes from Bath Abbey which was rebuilt during the Medieval period in 1499.
These parts you have examined reminded people in the village how important the church was.
Everyone understood that they needed to obey the church in order to get to heaven.

7. Look at Source A. What does this show us about Medieval beliefs?
Tasks:
Look at Source A. What does this show us about Medieval beliefs?
Why would the belief in heaven and hell make Medieval people obey the church?
Look at Source B. How does Source B show the importance of the church for Kings?
Look at Source C. Why was the Archbishop of Canterbury so important?
Look at Source D. Why did Medieval people pay tithes?
Usefulness: Which of these sources is the most useful for you to find out about Medieval churches? Explain why!
What else do you need to investigate and why?

8. How important was the Medieval church?
Source C:
Source A:
The Archbishop of Canterbury was the head of the church in England.
The Pope was in charge of all the Christian churches.
The King was allowed to choose the Archbishop of Canterbury, but the Pope had to agree.
The Archbishop had the power to ban people from the church and damn them to hell (excommunicate).
Source B:
Source D- from
Peasants paid 10% of what they earned to the Church (this tax was called tithes). Tithes could be paid in either money or in goods. As peasants had little money, they almost always had to pay in seeds, harvested grain, animals etc. This usually caused a peasant a lot of hardship as seeds, for example, would be needed to feed a family the following year. What the Church got in tithes was kept in huge tithe barns; a lot of the stored grain would have been eaten  by rats or poisoned by their urine. The Church told peasants that if they didn’t pay they would go to Hell after they had died.

9. Henry II being whipped after the death of Thomas Beckett
How important was the Medieval church?
Source C:
Source A:
The Archbishop of Canterbury was the head of the church in England.
The Pope was in charge of all the Christian churches.
The King was allowed to choose the Archbishop of Canterbury, but the Pope had to agree.
The Archbishop had the power to ban people from the church and damn them to hell (excommunicate).
Source B:
Source D- from
Peasants paid 10% of what they earned to the Church (this tax was called tithes). Tithes could be paid in either money or in goods.
The Church told peasants that if they didn’t pay they would go to Hell after they had died.
Henry II being whipped after the death of Thomas Beckett

10. Tasks: ANSWER
How important was the Medieval church?
Make sure you write clearly in full sentences.
Level 4-
You can describe the role of the church in the Medieval period using key words.
Level 5-
You can explain the role of the church in Medieval society and assess its importance in people’s lives.
Level 6-
You have evaluated (HOW IT WAS AND WAS NOT IMPORTANT) the importance of the church in the Medieval period using evidence to support statements and explain beliefs

11. Test your understanding...
Match the new key words below to their correct definition-
He was in charge of the Church in England and would have to crown the new Kings.
Archbishop
Excommunicate
A tax paid to the church.
Holy buildings created in the Medieval period. This is where monks lived and worshipped God.
Tithe
When the Archbishop banned someone from the church and damned them to hell.
Monastery

14. N. McConnell - Spring 1: Wk 2

19. N. McConnell - Spring 1: Wk 2
Homework Task
Using these pictures, write a sermon from a priest for your congregation warning them about the peril of sin and the consequences of being a sinner. Describe what hell is like. Make it sound as gruesome as possible! Try to include:
▪ What the devil look like
▪ What the devil do
▪ What hell looks, smells and sounds like
The first sentence is written for you!
Your sermon:
“We are gathered here today so I can warn you about hell. Hell is a terrible place to be…
N. McConnell - Spring 1: Wk 2