The Church of Medieval Europe impacted the availability of education to certain members of society. Education was strictly limited to members of the church and those of high status, meaning that those in lower classes, such as peasants, were uneducated and unable to read. They relied on what the church would tell them and couldn’t prove that what they were told was incorrect. It was probable that the church would lie many times to put themselves in a better position and to improve their reputation. The church helped Christians in their daily lives and ran most of the schools and hospitals in the middle ages. Schools were often in Churches and some children even played ball games in churches when the weather was bad. Monks were among a few people who could read and write; they were considered important people that taught the children of the rich and copied books and drew up legal documents. The parish priest who took the services was one of the most educated people in the parish, and often the only one who could read. Although those of high status
The church possessed a large amount of authority, influencing taxes, feudal system and government. They controlled the taxes and incomes of the people. Going against the church was known as heresy and was considered as a foul crime. The church had no one to answer to, so they could pretty much do whatever they wanted, without being told it was wrong. The church had a lot of control over the people and bishops and archbishops advised kings and great lords who ruled Europe. Catholic church was wealthy and powerful. The main Job the church had was to get people to heaven, baptised babies, married young couples, heard confessions, give the last rites to the dying and buried the dead. They believed that only the priest could forgive their sins, which made them very powerful and important in people’s lives.
The church impacted many individuals in medieval society, holding a great amount of influence over their lives.
They would do anything to go to heaven and including doing anything that the church had instructed. Attending church and praying was a daily occurrence for all types of people during the middle ages. They had beliefs that religion helped people deal with hardship in their lives and believed that this blessing turned the wine and bread into the blood and body of Jesus Christ. Visiting the church to confess, tell the priest about their sins, wipe away their sins and ask God for forgiveness would result in them going to heaven. They believed that if they sinned too much, they wouldn’t get into heaven. Medieval people believed that bad people went to hell when they died and if they wanted to get to heaven they had to attend church. Women who gave birth were made to attended a service to make them ‘clean’ of their sins. 800 years ago, lords and ladies supported the church with income and paid the wages of priest. They had believed that such noble acts will get them closer to heaven. They had thought that if they followed the teachings of the Bible, Christian holy book, they would join God in heaven after they died. People who followed other religions were forced to convert to Christianity, were sometimes killed for refusing to give up their beliefs. The catholic Church thought that some of the worst enemies were heretics. People accused of being heretics didn’t confess or give up their beliefs were given penances, punishments, were put in prison, or were tortured or
killed.