Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

Church

In the 11th century a single church, headed by the Pope in Rome, held sway virtually throughout Europe. The Anglo-Saxon church had, at the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD, decided in favour of the Roman over the Celtic usage. In theory, therefore, both William the Bastard and Harold Godwinsson were governed in their spiritual lives by the same power. Further, as the office of king was perceived to be sanctified by God, and as the Church was a considerable landowner and thus active in temporal affairs including the raising of military forces associated with landholding, the power of the Pope was a real influence in disputes over the throne. William, through Gilbert of Lisieux was able to recruit Pope Alexander II to his cause while Harold, the chosen of the English witan, commanded the allegiance of Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury. William's success in conquest had a profound influence on the standing of the church in England.