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Going to Church in Medieval England
An engaging, richly illustrated account of parish churches and churchgoers in England, from the Anglo-Saxons to the mid-sixteenth century
Parish churches were at the heart of English religious and social life in the Middle Ages and the sixteenth century. In this comprehensive study, Nicholas Orme shows how they came into existence, who staffed them, and how their buildings were used. He explains who went to church, who did not attend, how people behaved there, and how they—not merely the clergy—affected how worship was staged.
The book provides an accessible account of what happened in the daily and weekly services, and how churches marked the seasons of Christmas, Lent, Easter, and summer. It describes how they celebrated the great events of birth, coming of age, and marriage, and gave comfort in sickness and death. A final chapter covers the English Reformation in the sixteenth century and shows how, alongside its changes, much that went on in parish churches remained as before.
Parish churches were at the heart of English religious and social life in the Middle Ages and the sixteenth century. In this comprehensive study, Nicholas Orme shows how they came into existence, who staffed them, and how their buildings were used. He explains who went to church, who did not attend, how people behaved there, and how they—not merely the clergy—affected how worship was staged.
The book provides an accessible account of what happened in the daily and weekly services, and how churches marked the seasons of Christmas, Lent, Easter, and summer. It describes how they celebrated the great events of birth, coming of age, and marriage, and gave comfort in sickness and death. A final chapter covers the English Reformation in the sixteenth century and shows how, alongside its changes, much that went on in parish churches remained as before.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
110 people are currently reading
1340 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Orme
45 books26 followersA specialist in the Middle Ages and Tudor period, Nicholas Orme is an Emeritus Professor of History at Exeter University. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, and has worked as a visiting scholar at, among others, Merton College, Oxford, St John's College, Oxford, and the University of Arizona.
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May 5, 2023
Nicholas Orme's book Going to Church in Medieval England is one of the most interesting and helpful books I had read on this period. It is packed with information that not only shows the Church and church were central to medieval society and life, but also how the Church operated and how the laity took part in their day to day lives.
Starting with the origins of Christianity in England from just before 600 AD/CE and the parish, Professor Orme moves across chapters that cover the staff of the church, the building itself - and the many designs, uses and how these developed and changed, as well as the upkeep and how church equipment (chalices, shrouds etc., were acquired).
The Congregation is explored: ranging from royalty, landed gentry and the leisured classes to middle income, merchants and the guilds that formed through to the serf, servant and agricultural labourer and more, we learn of their attendance and where in the Church they might stand or later, sit, as well as how they might pray, recite and also behave. This latter is fascinating as there are some naughty people as you might expect from those ignoring church; disbelievers and dissenters; those who commit adultery or have sex in the church or cemetery; and crimes including even murder of clergy. As such the book also mentions Church courts and how these provided punishment in relation to people going to church.
Chapters on the Day and Week and when, how and what services were held give lost of detail, as does the following chapter on the Seasons of the Year. These chapters include the many saints days celebrated, and how people were reminded of what was coming up the following week. Other aspects include offertory, processions, Latin & English delivery of services, and confession, whilst a further chapter concentrates on the Life Cycle. This latter one gives detail on births and baptisms, churching (the service to purify the mother's body after giving birth), marriage and weddings, ill-health, death, and burial.
The final main chapter in the book then places the Reformation [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English...] into the context of what we have learnt in and of Going to Church in Medieval England and how these ideas, behaviours and the buildings would change over the next up to c1553 and a little beyond.
Following this, is a short chapter entitled Reflections that provides a good overview from Professor Orme on using the Reformation and what he could include with confidence and how he used a huge variety of sources.
The book is very detailed and covers a lot of ground, but it is easy to read and with sub-sections within each chapter it is digestible and manageable. The quality of the printing and paper from Yale University Press is to their normal high standard, and the reader is treated to 59 mostly colour illustrations throughout the book (churches, rood screens, altars, books/psalters, paintings and drawings). There is a very helpful listing of technical terms in respect of the church and its services, positions, and much more. A full bibliography and index also add information and assistance.
If you have a interest in medieval England, the people and the way they lived and how, then this book will be of interest. It has provided much for me to know and look out for, as I crawl around churches on country walks and has certainly added to my understanding of England from c600 to c1553.
Starting with the origins of Christianity in England from just before 600 AD/CE and the parish, Professor Orme moves across chapters that cover the staff of the church, the building itself - and the many designs, uses and how these developed and changed, as well as the upkeep and how church equipment (chalices, shrouds etc., were acquired).
The Congregation is explored: ranging from royalty, landed gentry and the leisured classes to middle income, merchants and the guilds that formed through to the serf, servant and agricultural labourer and more, we learn of their attendance and where in the Church they might stand or later, sit, as well as how they might pray, recite and also behave. This latter is fascinating as there are some naughty people as you might expect from those ignoring church; disbelievers and dissenters; those who commit adultery or have sex in the church or cemetery; and crimes including even murder of clergy. As such the book also mentions Church courts and how these provided punishment in relation to people going to church.
Chapters on the Day and Week and when, how and what services were held give lost of detail, as does the following chapter on the Seasons of the Year. These chapters include the many saints days celebrated, and how people were reminded of what was coming up the following week. Other aspects include offertory, processions, Latin & English delivery of services, and confession, whilst a further chapter concentrates on the Life Cycle. This latter one gives detail on births and baptisms, churching (the service to purify the mother's body after giving birth), marriage and weddings, ill-health, death, and burial.
The final main chapter in the book then places the Reformation [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English...] into the context of what we have learnt in and of Going to Church in Medieval England and how these ideas, behaviours and the buildings would change over the next up to c1553 and a little beyond.
Following this, is a short chapter entitled Reflections that provides a good overview from Professor Orme on using the Reformation and what he could include with confidence and how he used a huge variety of sources.
The book is very detailed and covers a lot of ground, but it is easy to read and with sub-sections within each chapter it is digestible and manageable. The quality of the printing and paper from Yale University Press is to their normal high standard, and the reader is treated to 59 mostly colour illustrations throughout the book (churches, rood screens, altars, books/psalters, paintings and drawings). There is a very helpful listing of technical terms in respect of the church and its services, positions, and much more. A full bibliography and index also add information and assistance.
If you have a interest in medieval England, the people and the way they lived and how, then this book will be of interest. It has provided much for me to know and look out for, as I crawl around churches on country walks and has certainly added to my understanding of England from c600 to c1553.
January 20, 2022
Going to Church in Medieval England
By Nicholas Orme
Reviewed January 15, 2022
If you want to learn about Medieval England, or Medieval Europe in general for that matter, you need to know about the Church during that time. Whether king or commoner, the Church was an integral part of life and to ignore that part of Medieval society and culture is to ignore a major portion of both.
From minsters (originally referring to a church attached to a monastery and coming from monasterium, the Latin word for a religious community, that became translated into Old English as mynster, now minster) to monasteries to parish churches, Going to Church in Medieval England is a comprehensive look at the story of English churchgoers, with each chapter dedicated to a specific aspect.
In chapter 1, we look at “Origins and the Parish” with an overview of the introduction of Christianity to Britain, which came during the Roman Period. This was followed by a lapse to pagan ways during the Viking and Saxon incursions, but eventually Christianity came to stay when various missions were sent to bring the English people back into the folds of the Church, with a second monastic revival following the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Church, or as we would call it today, the Catholic Church, continued to grow in importance in the daily lives of people, and we follow this to the Tudor Reformation, getting a look at what changed and what stayed the same.
Other chapters cover a number of topics. “The Staff of the Church” goes into the men served the churches, the parish priests, with each parish required to have at least a single priest in charge of caring for the souls of the parishioners.
“The Church Building” pays attention to the place of prayer and worship, and that for centuries was a place of sanctuary for those fleeing enemies.
“The Congregation” discusses who attended Church and who didn’t, while “The Day of the Week” explains how acts of praise and prayer related to of the day, with daily services by the end of the Middle Ages linking with events of the Passion.
“The Seasons and the Year” shows how the year as constructed by the Church was divided into two parts – one following the course of Christ’s life, and the other in which themes of worship were more general, the “ordinary time.”
We end with “The Life Cycle” (birth, baptism, confirmation, marriage, childbirth, unction, funeral and burial of the dead), “The Reformation” (what changes were brought about by the Tudor regime and the Reformation) and “Reflections” (while Reformation brought about changes, some things remained the same in the Parish Churches). Each topic is covered in detail, with color illustrations and numerous examples quoted.
I always thought of my own church, which was built in the 1880s when German immigrants brought their Evangelical Lutheran faith with them, as old but compared to the English parish churches, it’s almost new! And while my church and the English parish churches share a background that goes back to Catholicism, there’s enough difference for much of the material in this book to be new to me. And while it’s filled with an abundance of information, it’s presented in a very readable, very understandable way.
A couple interesting facts I learned were that Easter Sunday was always the largest attended service, and that Confessions were made out in the open, that confessionals did not exist at this time. There are also a number of terms I have long been familiar with but had only a vague idea what they meant. Thanks to this book, I have a better understanding of the difference between a vicar and a rector, or a benefice from a prebend. This is an excellent book for both the student of Medieval England as well as the general reader who simply wants to know more about this topic.
The author, Nicholas Orme, is Emeritus Professor of History at Exeter University and has written numerous books on the religious and social history of England, including Medieval Children, Medieval Schools, Medieval Pilgrimage, and The History of England’s Cathedrals, and is therefore well suited for writing on this subject.
By Nicholas Orme
Reviewed January 15, 2022
If you want to learn about Medieval England, or Medieval Europe in general for that matter, you need to know about the Church during that time. Whether king or commoner, the Church was an integral part of life and to ignore that part of Medieval society and culture is to ignore a major portion of both.
From minsters (originally referring to a church attached to a monastery and coming from monasterium, the Latin word for a religious community, that became translated into Old English as mynster, now minster) to monasteries to parish churches, Going to Church in Medieval England is a comprehensive look at the story of English churchgoers, with each chapter dedicated to a specific aspect.
In chapter 1, we look at “Origins and the Parish” with an overview of the introduction of Christianity to Britain, which came during the Roman Period. This was followed by a lapse to pagan ways during the Viking and Saxon incursions, but eventually Christianity came to stay when various missions were sent to bring the English people back into the folds of the Church, with a second monastic revival following the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Church, or as we would call it today, the Catholic Church, continued to grow in importance in the daily lives of people, and we follow this to the Tudor Reformation, getting a look at what changed and what stayed the same.
Other chapters cover a number of topics. “The Staff of the Church” goes into the men served the churches, the parish priests, with each parish required to have at least a single priest in charge of caring for the souls of the parishioners.
“The Church Building” pays attention to the place of prayer and worship, and that for centuries was a place of sanctuary for those fleeing enemies.
“The Congregation” discusses who attended Church and who didn’t, while “The Day of the Week” explains how acts of praise and prayer related to of the day, with daily services by the end of the Middle Ages linking with events of the Passion.
“The Seasons and the Year” shows how the year as constructed by the Church was divided into two parts – one following the course of Christ’s life, and the other in which themes of worship were more general, the “ordinary time.”
We end with “The Life Cycle” (birth, baptism, confirmation, marriage, childbirth, unction, funeral and burial of the dead), “The Reformation” (what changes were brought about by the Tudor regime and the Reformation) and “Reflections” (while Reformation brought about changes, some things remained the same in the Parish Churches). Each topic is covered in detail, with color illustrations and numerous examples quoted.
I always thought of my own church, which was built in the 1880s when German immigrants brought their Evangelical Lutheran faith with them, as old but compared to the English parish churches, it’s almost new! And while my church and the English parish churches share a background that goes back to Catholicism, there’s enough difference for much of the material in this book to be new to me. And while it’s filled with an abundance of information, it’s presented in a very readable, very understandable way.
A couple interesting facts I learned were that Easter Sunday was always the largest attended service, and that Confessions were made out in the open, that confessionals did not exist at this time. There are also a number of terms I have long been familiar with but had only a vague idea what they meant. Thanks to this book, I have a better understanding of the difference between a vicar and a rector, or a benefice from a prebend. This is an excellent book for both the student of Medieval England as well as the general reader who simply wants to know more about this topic.
The author, Nicholas Orme, is Emeritus Professor of History at Exeter University and has written numerous books on the religious and social history of England, including Medieval Children, Medieval Schools, Medieval Pilgrimage, and The History of England’s Cathedrals, and is therefore well suited for writing on this subject.
November 22, 2021
Given the proliferation of Medieval Churches across England (my own dates from the late twelfth century) it is a rather astonishing fact that we know very little about what went on inside them for most of their history. Until reading this book I had assumed that I knew what Medieval Christianity looked like (the mass in Latin, mumbled inaudibly; peasants fidgeting in the nave whilst being looked down upon by the gentry who were there primarily to be seen). Such assumptions appear not to be wholly wrong but they are far from the whole truth.
In the course of this absolutely fascinating book I have learnt that although Holy Communion after the 1215 Lateran Council was only given to the laity once a year at Easter (and then only the bread), it was the custom for families to bring their own unconsecrated communion loaf to be consumed by the congregation at the end of the service. Likewise the laity could be given unconsecrated wine to wash the bread down. A form of communion was thus being let in through the side door.
What we can know about Medieval Religion comes from the architecture of the churches, the published liturgy and occasional references in Chaucer, Piers Ploughman and so on. Evidence from wills and bequests can also be adduced although these will for the most part only apply to the wealthier worshippers and in any case may effectively be pro forma rather than give any deeper insight into people's souls. What actually went on in each individual church we can only have a rough idea or and what went on in the minds of the churchgoers is a closed book entirely. Aside from mystics such as Margery Kempe or Richard Rolle we have almost no written records of individual Christians.
Orme's book is almost comprehensive and I found almost every page enlightening. If one thing was lacking it was the broader historical chronology. Understanding how church worship may have changed in the light of the Black Death would have been fascinating, but I suspect, as with so much else, we simply have no idea.
In the course of this absolutely fascinating book I have learnt that although Holy Communion after the 1215 Lateran Council was only given to the laity once a year at Easter (and then only the bread), it was the custom for families to bring their own unconsecrated communion loaf to be consumed by the congregation at the end of the service. Likewise the laity could be given unconsecrated wine to wash the bread down. A form of communion was thus being let in through the side door.
What we can know about Medieval Religion comes from the architecture of the churches, the published liturgy and occasional references in Chaucer, Piers Ploughman and so on. Evidence from wills and bequests can also be adduced although these will for the most part only apply to the wealthier worshippers and in any case may effectively be pro forma rather than give any deeper insight into people's souls. What actually went on in each individual church we can only have a rough idea or and what went on in the minds of the churchgoers is a closed book entirely. Aside from mystics such as Margery Kempe or Richard Rolle we have almost no written records of individual Christians.
Orme's book is almost comprehensive and I found almost every page enlightening. If one thing was lacking it was the broader historical chronology. Understanding how church worship may have changed in the light of the Black Death would have been fascinating, but I suspect, as with so much else, we simply have no idea.
December 16, 2025
An absolutely delightful book that on its face sounds like a snoozer: how can a book about normal church life in medieval England not be terribly boring?
The book covers all aspects of liturgical life for the everyday Medieval Christian. Chapters cover topics like the church calendar, life cycles, clergy, etc. with a final chapter on the reforms ushered in by Henry VIII and modified during Elizabeth’s reign.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this so much—but I did!
The book covers all aspects of liturgical life for the everyday Medieval Christian. Chapters cover topics like the church calendar, life cycles, clergy, etc. with a final chapter on the reforms ushered in by Henry VIII and modified during Elizabeth’s reign.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this so much—but I did!
April 30, 2024
Very thorough - the sort of book only dull men enjoy
May 20, 2023
Orme's book does a great service in pulling together a vast amount of information on a subject often referred to but rarely focused on: actual religious practice in Medieval England. The result is a one of the most useful types of historical study - a book that is rewarding to read through but also one that will repay that reading by being a reference on points of detail for years to come. Things which I kind of knew before were made more clear by Orme, such as the difference between the liturgies of the "Use of Sarum" and the "Use of York". Other things which I didn't know were also explained, such as why it's the "Use of Sarum" and not, as you might expect, the "Use of Canterbury". Familiar terms are made more clear by detailed examinations of how churches were used and how they evolved over time, so the reader will definitely know their chancel from their chantry or their choir by the end of this work. Other more obscure terms and practices are made explicable, such as "chapel of ease".
Orme details the variety of practice and the range of devotion in the period, from those who attended a church or chapel almost daily to those who preferred to stay in bed on Sunday mornings. The rarity with which the laity took communion and the way the Mass increasingly became a rarefied act to be observed was interesting. Then again, the fact that parts of the Mass were in English and the way key elements of the Latin were explained is contrary to a lot of post-Reformation myth making. Other surprising elements were the importance of the distribution of (unconsecrated) "holy bread" after Mass or the fact some attendants on the priest in the sacrament were girls rather than just boys or young men were also interesting.
The final chapter on the Reformation was useful in showing just how quickly and dramatically the traditions and practices whose evolution was painstakingly traced in the rest of the book were overturned and changed or abolished. This makes the resistance to and resentment of these changes by many more understandable.
This is a useful and entertaining as well as a detailed and careful contribution to the understanding of Medieval Christianity and possibly one that's rather overdue for modern readers. Highly recommended.
Orme details the variety of practice and the range of devotion in the period, from those who attended a church or chapel almost daily to those who preferred to stay in bed on Sunday mornings. The rarity with which the laity took communion and the way the Mass increasingly became a rarefied act to be observed was interesting. Then again, the fact that parts of the Mass were in English and the way key elements of the Latin were explained is contrary to a lot of post-Reformation myth making. Other surprising elements were the importance of the distribution of (unconsecrated) "holy bread" after Mass or the fact some attendants on the priest in the sacrament were girls rather than just boys or young men were also interesting.
The final chapter on the Reformation was useful in showing just how quickly and dramatically the traditions and practices whose evolution was painstakingly traced in the rest of the book were overturned and changed or abolished. This makes the resistance to and resentment of these changes by many more understandable.
This is a useful and entertaining as well as a detailed and careful contribution to the understanding of Medieval Christianity and possibly one that's rather overdue for modern readers. Highly recommended.
May 29, 2022
BTW this is one of those books whose page numbers are deceptive because a huge chunk of it is endnotes, bibliography and index. The main text is about 63% of the book.
This is the second book from the Wolfson History Prize Shortlist I've read. The first, Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History by Alex von Tunzelmann, was a more populist book as opposed to a more academic history book. Going to Church in Medieval England is a much more academic read. It is the sort of book that a general reader can enjoy but I suspect you'd have to be interested in the subject to pick it up.
Before I say anything else I should pause here and remind you all that I am not a professional historian. I have a history degree (from 1992) and an ongoing interest in history. I can't pretend to know whether Nicholas Orme has made any egregious errors of fact or interpretation. All I can do is offer an amateur reader of history books' opinion. With that in mind let us begin.
Orme has written this book to tell the story of the Churches of England:
"The following book sets out to tell their story and that of their clergy and congregations from Augustine’s arrival to the final establishment of a Reformed Church of England under Elizabeth I in 1559."
The book is topped and tailed chronologically. The first chapter covers 'Origins and the Parish' and the Chapter 8 is 'The Reformation' but the middle of this Medieval historical sandwich is topic led - The Staff of the Church, The Church Building, The Congregation, The Day and the Week, The Seasons of the Year and the Life Cycle - and is flits around through time. This actually is a helpful way to put this book together. It's impossible, I think, to do it in some tell a simple chronological story. The chapters connect with each other though so that you get as full a picture as possible of what life in a Medieval Church was like.
There are, of course, gaps. Medieval history is full of gaps, especially in documentation. A lot of the examples come from people who broke rules, because their stories are recorded. We also have the traditional problems of history the bias of surviving information towards the wealthy and well-connected and the visibility of men over women. Plus, as Orme himself points out in the final chapter, children are almost entirely missing from this story. So, like a lot of Medieval history (and history in general perhaps) Orme has to rely on educated guesswork occasionally to fill in gaps. What Suzanne Lipscomb calls "critical fabulation"* I have no problem with this when what is being suggested is being buttressed by references and research.
Orme does a great job of pulling all the different disciplinary threads together into one big picture. He says in his introduction that this fractured approach means it a collective history of Churches hasn't really been done before. Orme should be applauded for doing so here. I'm sure specialists will find things to criticise. After all to get this book down to a manageable length Orme must have had to be miserly with his examples.
This books is packed with information, which might seem like an obvious thing to say but I'm saying it anyway. I learned a lot. Reading this book will familiarise you with words and concepts you've never come across before - antiphons, censing, aspersing, pyx, feretory and churching to pick a handful. Churching is the rite/ceremony women who had given birth underwent on returning the Church. The rest I will leave you to look up. It also had never occurred to me that worship in early Churches was done standing up. There weren't chairs. Unless you bought your own - or had your servant bring it. I'd always assumed pews (or similar) were there from day one. There's lots of revelations like that throughout the book.
I found the most interesting chapters to be those on The Church Building and the three chapters that look at the calendar and life cycle. The Church Building chapter will be of use to me the next time I'm visiting Churches. Here might be a good point to note that the book has lots of great photographs and illustrations. I might have to go back through it to make a list of various churches to visit.
The chapter on the Reformation was also particularly interesting concentrating as it did not on the political changes but the actual practical changes - to the buildings, their furniture, their staffing and the liturgy.
It is worth a read if Medieval Churches and history are your cup of tea, but not perhaps one for the general reader (and maybe it wasn't meant to be.) But having said all of that I enjoyed it and I can't pretend Medieval Church history was high on my list of subjects I'm fascinated by.
*In How Can We Recover the Lost Lives of Women from What is History, now? Edited by Helen Carr and Suzanne Lipscomb.]
This is the second book from the Wolfson History Prize Shortlist I've read. The first, Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History by Alex von Tunzelmann, was a more populist book as opposed to a more academic history book. Going to Church in Medieval England is a much more academic read. It is the sort of book that a general reader can enjoy but I suspect you'd have to be interested in the subject to pick it up.
Before I say anything else I should pause here and remind you all that I am not a professional historian. I have a history degree (from 1992) and an ongoing interest in history. I can't pretend to know whether Nicholas Orme has made any egregious errors of fact or interpretation. All I can do is offer an amateur reader of history books' opinion. With that in mind let us begin.
Orme has written this book to tell the story of the Churches of England:
"The following book sets out to tell their story and that of their clergy and congregations from Augustine’s arrival to the final establishment of a Reformed Church of England under Elizabeth I in 1559."
The book is topped and tailed chronologically. The first chapter covers 'Origins and the Parish' and the Chapter 8 is 'The Reformation' but the middle of this Medieval historical sandwich is topic led - The Staff of the Church, The Church Building, The Congregation, The Day and the Week, The Seasons of the Year and the Life Cycle - and is flits around through time. This actually is a helpful way to put this book together. It's impossible, I think, to do it in some tell a simple chronological story. The chapters connect with each other though so that you get as full a picture as possible of what life in a Medieval Church was like.
There are, of course, gaps. Medieval history is full of gaps, especially in documentation. A lot of the examples come from people who broke rules, because their stories are recorded. We also have the traditional problems of history the bias of surviving information towards the wealthy and well-connected and the visibility of men over women. Plus, as Orme himself points out in the final chapter, children are almost entirely missing from this story. So, like a lot of Medieval history (and history in general perhaps) Orme has to rely on educated guesswork occasionally to fill in gaps. What Suzanne Lipscomb calls "critical fabulation"* I have no problem with this when what is being suggested is being buttressed by references and research.
Orme does a great job of pulling all the different disciplinary threads together into one big picture. He says in his introduction that this fractured approach means it a collective history of Churches hasn't really been done before. Orme should be applauded for doing so here. I'm sure specialists will find things to criticise. After all to get this book down to a manageable length Orme must have had to be miserly with his examples.
This books is packed with information, which might seem like an obvious thing to say but I'm saying it anyway. I learned a lot. Reading this book will familiarise you with words and concepts you've never come across before - antiphons, censing, aspersing, pyx, feretory and churching to pick a handful. Churching is the rite/ceremony women who had given birth underwent on returning the Church. The rest I will leave you to look up. It also had never occurred to me that worship in early Churches was done standing up. There weren't chairs. Unless you bought your own - or had your servant bring it. I'd always assumed pews (or similar) were there from day one. There's lots of revelations like that throughout the book.
I found the most interesting chapters to be those on The Church Building and the three chapters that look at the calendar and life cycle. The Church Building chapter will be of use to me the next time I'm visiting Churches. Here might be a good point to note that the book has lots of great photographs and illustrations. I might have to go back through it to make a list of various churches to visit.
The chapter on the Reformation was also particularly interesting concentrating as it did not on the political changes but the actual practical changes - to the buildings, their furniture, their staffing and the liturgy.
It is worth a read if Medieval Churches and history are your cup of tea, but not perhaps one for the general reader (and maybe it wasn't meant to be.) But having said all of that I enjoyed it and I can't pretend Medieval Church history was high on my list of subjects I'm fascinated by.
*In How Can We Recover the Lost Lives of Women from What is History, now? Edited by Helen Carr and Suzanne Lipscomb.]
March 24, 2024
I picked this up on a whim at the library and I’m so glad I did, this was so interesting! I learnt so much from this book, particularly about the period of the reformation and although it was rich in information it was a pretty accessible read.
August 1, 2022
Not as fun as Being Protestant in Reformation England, which is a counterpart slightly further on in chronology, but in part at least because the evidence the Middle Ages gives us is less about how people felt than about what they did or what material effects they left behind.
Very satisfactory as a reference work. An overview that manages to be detailed, drawing from a wide range of sources.
Very satisfactory as a reference work. An overview that manages to be detailed, drawing from a wide range of sources.
August 10, 2025
Quite tedious in that it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know about English religious history - but if you wanted to a good place to start with English medieval churches this might be the place.
December 13, 2022
Absolutely my book of the year! This is an incredible book that I have consciously taken my time to finish because I enjoyed it so much. It is packed full of information, but written in a clear and engaging manner that makes it easy to understand. By focusing on the experience of people through them as a community it gives the subject matter an immediacy in spite of what could be quite high level subject matter.
Split into chapters about:
1. Origins of the Parish - possibly my favourite chapter, this looks at how we got the parish structure we did from the earliest days of the Church in England
2. Staff of the Church - ties really nicely with the first chapter, looking at who did what and in which type of church
3. The Church Building - fascinating look at how building usage changed over time - my favourite being the narrowing and widening of the view between chancel and nave, as well as the seating situation
4. The Congregation - plenty of interesting anecdotes pepper this chapter
5. The Day and the Week - the nitty gritty of what you would have experienced in the church on different days
6. The Seasons and the Year - looks at how yearly events like Lent, Easter, and Christmas would impact the experience
7. The Life Cycle - how the Church touched on the different parts of life e.g birth, marriage, and death - I found the changes over time and how they differ to more modern forms fascinating
8. The Reformation - whilst high level this is very concisely written
Full colour images throughout, excellent footnotes, and bibliography.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Split into chapters about:
1. Origins of the Parish - possibly my favourite chapter, this looks at how we got the parish structure we did from the earliest days of the Church in England
2. Staff of the Church - ties really nicely with the first chapter, looking at who did what and in which type of church
3. The Church Building - fascinating look at how building usage changed over time - my favourite being the narrowing and widening of the view between chancel and nave, as well as the seating situation
4. The Congregation - plenty of interesting anecdotes pepper this chapter
5. The Day and the Week - the nitty gritty of what you would have experienced in the church on different days
6. The Seasons and the Year - looks at how yearly events like Lent, Easter, and Christmas would impact the experience
7. The Life Cycle - how the Church touched on the different parts of life e.g birth, marriage, and death - I found the changes over time and how they differ to more modern forms fascinating
8. The Reformation - whilst high level this is very concisely written
Full colour images throughout, excellent footnotes, and bibliography.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
December 15, 2023
I'd definitely only recommend this to others fascinated by the minutiae of medieval life; the book's far from being an easy, superficial read, but it's all the better for that, in my opinion. The more esoteric, the better, and Orme has woven together a rich tapestry - the local church was at the fulcrum of medieval life in England in way that's hard to fathom for most of us today. All the rites of passage - birth, confirmation, marriage, death; the Church was central; oh, and for seasonal events, too, of course. Merry Christmas:)
March 31, 2023
A study impressive in scope and detail, but often dry and consisting more of liturgical minutiae than of human stories and interest. It is destined to be the reference book on people's experiences with the medieval church, but perhaps doesn't lend itself to being an engaging read for the layman. The scholarship, however, has to be said to be peerless.
March 28, 2022
When I first saw Going to Church in Medieval England, I was excited. I’ve often been confused and ignorant at how religion worked in the Middle Ages, even at a very basic level, wanting to understand but not sure where to start or where to find a very basic guide. I had also been very impressed with Nicholas Orme’s Medieval Children and was excited to try more of his work.
And yet, Going to Church in Medieval England was so much more than what I expected it to be. I wanted to know what “going to church” was like in medieval times but I did not expect the breadth and depth of Orme’s answer to that. I got the answers to the questions I had, I got answers to the questions I’d barely begun to articulate to myself and I got answers to questions that I hadn’t even thought about. I expected it to be good. I expected it fill in gaps in my knowledge. I didn’t expect it to be that good or to fill in the gaps I hadn’t even known were there.
Orme begins by looking at the origins of Christianity in England, before going on to cover who worked in a church and their career paths, the types and layouts of church buildings, who attended church, how the church divided up the day, the week, the year and the lifecycle of a person before concluding with the impact of the Reformation on the medieval churches. Each chapter is pretty lengthy (around 50 pages) but broken up into much briefer subsections, allowing one to dip in and out of a chapter as they wished with easy. Orme also provides a glossary, which was massively helpful, and the entire volume is beautifully presented with many illustrations.
The text is engaging and easy to follow. Although intended for a general reader, I don’t think I would call it a pop history. Those looking for a chatty, light take on history would probably be disappointed. This isn’t to say that the text is dull, it’s just not trying to be first and foremost entertaining and it does lift rather poetically in places. There is clearly a mountain of academic work behind this book, evidenced by copious notes and bibliography and Orme is open about the limitations of evidence and the scope of the book, sometimes citing authors the reader should turn to for a fuller discussion of a particular aspect of medieval religion.
The world Orme creates is vivid and colourful, perhaps not ideal but fascinating to look at and experience, and it’s hard not to feel some kind of grief when we reach the Reformation and see how the practice of religion became standardised and all the colour and individuality is leached out. That’s not to say that the Reformation was inherently destructive or that medieval Christianity was superior; it’s just it’s sad to see such a severe change.
Orme’s focus is not on the big personalities, movements or locations – for instance, Westminster Abbey isn’t featured, nor does he go on a deep dive on Lollardy and Wyclifism – but on the experience of the everyday. What was it like to go to church as a medieval person? What did it look like inside the church? Who went to mass, what did the sacraments look like and what was the role of the church in an individual’s life? The loss of evidence means that we can never fully answer those questions and others but Orme’s book is a way of bringing the Middle Ages once more to life. Highly recommended.
And yet, Going to Church in Medieval England was so much more than what I expected it to be. I wanted to know what “going to church” was like in medieval times but I did not expect the breadth and depth of Orme’s answer to that. I got the answers to the questions I had, I got answers to the questions I’d barely begun to articulate to myself and I got answers to questions that I hadn’t even thought about. I expected it to be good. I expected it fill in gaps in my knowledge. I didn’t expect it to be that good or to fill in the gaps I hadn’t even known were there.
Orme begins by looking at the origins of Christianity in England, before going on to cover who worked in a church and their career paths, the types and layouts of church buildings, who attended church, how the church divided up the day, the week, the year and the lifecycle of a person before concluding with the impact of the Reformation on the medieval churches. Each chapter is pretty lengthy (around 50 pages) but broken up into much briefer subsections, allowing one to dip in and out of a chapter as they wished with easy. Orme also provides a glossary, which was massively helpful, and the entire volume is beautifully presented with many illustrations.
The text is engaging and easy to follow. Although intended for a general reader, I don’t think I would call it a pop history. Those looking for a chatty, light take on history would probably be disappointed. This isn’t to say that the text is dull, it’s just not trying to be first and foremost entertaining and it does lift rather poetically in places. There is clearly a mountain of academic work behind this book, evidenced by copious notes and bibliography and Orme is open about the limitations of evidence and the scope of the book, sometimes citing authors the reader should turn to for a fuller discussion of a particular aspect of medieval religion.
The world Orme creates is vivid and colourful, perhaps not ideal but fascinating to look at and experience, and it’s hard not to feel some kind of grief when we reach the Reformation and see how the practice of religion became standardised and all the colour and individuality is leached out. That’s not to say that the Reformation was inherently destructive or that medieval Christianity was superior; it’s just it’s sad to see such a severe change.
Orme’s focus is not on the big personalities, movements or locations – for instance, Westminster Abbey isn’t featured, nor does he go on a deep dive on Lollardy and Wyclifism – but on the experience of the everyday. What was it like to go to church as a medieval person? What did it look like inside the church? Who went to mass, what did the sacraments look like and what was the role of the church in an individual’s life? The loss of evidence means that we can never fully answer those questions and others but Orme’s book is a way of bringing the Middle Ages once more to life. Highly recommended.
December 19, 2022
For those interested in immersing themselves in the past by visiting historic sites, one inevitably ends up visiting religious buildings. We may want to marvel at their architectural beauty, pay respects to a significant individual(s) or perhaps sit quietly and consider the people and events that have taken place within their walls. Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme, helps transport readers into the religious life of medieval England, and will provide new context for your next visit to a religious building, or ruins.
Published in 2021 by Yale University Press, and shortlisted for the prestigious Wolfson History Prize in 2022, Going to Church in Medieval England takes an incredibly detailed look at all aspects of church life in medieval England. This accessible book, starts by looking at the origins of parish churches, exploring the layout and design of the buildings and how these evolved over time, as well as the kinds of roles within the church and the process for becoming a cleric.
While at times, I found the book a little dry, there were many additions that recaptured my attention and got me going again. I particularly enjoyed learning about how the rule of celibacy came about and how seating was introduced to make it more comfortable resulting in debates as to when it was appropriate to sit and stand. There was a lot of terminology used which was challenging to get my head around. But, the inclusion of a detailed list and definitions of technical terms at the back of the book, helped to alleviate this hurdle.
It was interesting to read about the origins of many church practices, but also the similarities between the medieval church and church today. For example, much like today, the day of highest attendance throughout the year was easter Sunday. Additionally, there are records of the church authorities being troubled by the poor attendance, something that appears as a common occurrence throughout history. Orme provides plenty of specific examples of people's lived experiences of church life. It was fascinating to read about cases of children involved in near-fatal, or fatal accidents from being left at home to carry on with the chores while their family's attended church. Or, the records of churchgoers attending with their birds or prey, or dogs, which became such a nuisance, that they had to be banned. There are also records of people bringing weapons to church, and occasions of violence, which something that I had not expected to read.
Overall, Orme did an exceptional job at tying together the information and records about church life in medieval England. As identified by the author, England had approximately 9500 churches by around 1300. Each church was unique. As such, writing this book would have been a monumental task, and, making it accessible and engaging for readers, even more so. If you are interested in medieval England, or the history of church and religion, then I recommend you read Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme.
Published in 2021 by Yale University Press, and shortlisted for the prestigious Wolfson History Prize in 2022, Going to Church in Medieval England takes an incredibly detailed look at all aspects of church life in medieval England. This accessible book, starts by looking at the origins of parish churches, exploring the layout and design of the buildings and how these evolved over time, as well as the kinds of roles within the church and the process for becoming a cleric.
While at times, I found the book a little dry, there were many additions that recaptured my attention and got me going again. I particularly enjoyed learning about how the rule of celibacy came about and how seating was introduced to make it more comfortable resulting in debates as to when it was appropriate to sit and stand. There was a lot of terminology used which was challenging to get my head around. But, the inclusion of a detailed list and definitions of technical terms at the back of the book, helped to alleviate this hurdle.
It was interesting to read about the origins of many church practices, but also the similarities between the medieval church and church today. For example, much like today, the day of highest attendance throughout the year was easter Sunday. Additionally, there are records of the church authorities being troubled by the poor attendance, something that appears as a common occurrence throughout history. Orme provides plenty of specific examples of people's lived experiences of church life. It was fascinating to read about cases of children involved in near-fatal, or fatal accidents from being left at home to carry on with the chores while their family's attended church. Or, the records of churchgoers attending with their birds or prey, or dogs, which became such a nuisance, that they had to be banned. There are also records of people bringing weapons to church, and occasions of violence, which something that I had not expected to read.
Overall, Orme did an exceptional job at tying together the information and records about church life in medieval England. As identified by the author, England had approximately 9500 churches by around 1300. Each church was unique. As such, writing this book would have been a monumental task, and, making it accessible and engaging for readers, even more so. If you are interested in medieval England, or the history of church and religion, then I recommend you read Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme.
January 17, 2022
Fascinating and deeply learned with some lovely illustrations. Best getting it in hardback and well worth the money.
January 8, 2023
This is a very good book
It is about medieval church worship.
How the church functioned amongst its clergy, laity and even the spaces it occupied for instance the Parish system.
Interesting facts:
Good discussions on the space of the church and how it was used during different periods of the Middle Ages
Good discussion on how theology shaped the space of the church.
Good discussion on how the laity interacted with the local church. Who turned up who did not who where the non conformists: not just the intellectuals but those who stole form the church and where abusive to clergy
this is a very intriguing and insightful book. It helps you see how the laity and the clergy interacted with one another during the Middle Ages.
I could discussions on who is exempt from the church coming to church every week, fishermen and Shepherd because of their job
A big discussion on the mass how many times it took place in the week, how it was observed
A good discussion on the different type of service in the church vespers morning worship
A good discussion on wedding, funerals and baptism and what they look like and how they changed over the mediaeval period
A great discussion on different genders and how they interact with the chat, different ranks in society and how they interacted with the church.
It is about medieval church worship.
How the church functioned amongst its clergy, laity and even the spaces it occupied for instance the Parish system.
Interesting facts:
Good discussions on the space of the church and how it was used during different periods of the Middle Ages
Good discussion on how theology shaped the space of the church.
Good discussion on how the laity interacted with the local church. Who turned up who did not who where the non conformists: not just the intellectuals but those who stole form the church and where abusive to clergy
this is a very intriguing and insightful book. It helps you see how the laity and the clergy interacted with one another during the Middle Ages.
I could discussions on who is exempt from the church coming to church every week, fishermen and Shepherd because of their job
A big discussion on the mass how many times it took place in the week, how it was observed
A good discussion on the different type of service in the church vespers morning worship
A good discussion on wedding, funerals and baptism and what they look like and how they changed over the mediaeval period
A great discussion on different genders and how they interact with the chat, different ranks in society and how they interacted with the church.
February 16, 2023
This book is written like a text book. It is very thorough. It was very interesting and firmed up some things I thought I knew about church going in medieval England. I enjoyed reading it. It’s not often I read text books anymore, but it was well worth it.
July 5, 2024
This book made me gain a deeper understanding of not only late medieval parochial religion, but also the world around me. If, like me, you have the privilege of living near a well-preserved medieval parish church, this book will make you view it in a new light. When I stroll up to it now, I now know how it most likely came to be, who would have staffed the church, the different characters of people one would have found in (or out of) the church, how different services (like the Mass, evensong, or funerals) were conducted and the ideas that informed them, how it might have changed during the Reformation, and am able to consider how the various functions of its architectural layout.
Such a comprehensive understanding derives largely from the mountain of detail included by Orme. But this detail does not belittle the casual reader, or leave the student feeling like they have wasted their time. Instead, he takes a well-organised thematic approach. It introduces casual readers to all of the multifaceted aspects of 'going to Church' in his period, while also citing sources that would prove useful to students and researchers. It also ensures that, in later chapters, the reader does not become confused by the terminology he uses.
Orme, rightfully, begins with the basics. The first chapter outlines how, in the twelfth century, the 'parish' – along with chapels and other sites of worship – developed from the abundance of minsters (early cathedrals) spreading into rural areas, where the population was growing. The second chapter then focusses on the various clerical workers who staffed the parish church, including clerical assistants, vicars, chaplains, rectors, and deacons. The third then elaborates on the various architectural features of a parish church, such as the chancel and the nave, and explains their function, how they differed, and how they changed and expanded in the late medieval period. The fourth, finally, focusses on the different kinds of people one would find (or not find!) in church, such as the wealthy, and chronicles the differing ways laypeople acted and behaved in churches.
Having explained these crucial aspects of the parish church, his focus shifts to liturgy. The fifth chapter concerns the various services that were to be conducted each week and every day, such as the Holy Office and the Mass. The fifth then focusses on the Christian liturgical year, maintaining an emphasis on the peculiarities of festivals like Rogation Week and Candlemas. The sixth chapter concerns the Reformation. It explains – in impressive concision – how, despite the liturgical changes set forth in the Prayer Books of 1549, 1552 and 1559, many aspects of medieval parochial religion outlasted the Reformation, such as fasting on holy days like Easter.
This incremental structure, I think, is aided greatly by Orme's use of a wide range of sources. Like all fine works of historiography, Orme 're-enacts' the world of medieval churchgoing in a quasi-Collingwoodian way. He achieves this re-enacting by not merely engaging with clerical instructions, such as those set forth at Fourth Lateran Council or the Council of Lambeth. Instead, he supplements these 'official' edicts with anecdotes from poems (such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!), biographies (like Margery Kempe's), objects such as rood screens and altars, individual writers like John Mirk or Polydore Vergil, and even schoolbooks! This wealth of material makes the reader, in a sense, inhabit the multifarious world of the medieval parish church.
In the introduction, Orme rather humbly claims the book "does not attempt to argue a particular thesis about medieval parish churches. This is not possible given a coverage of hundreds of years, thousands of churches, and millions of people." (2) Yet, I think the book does make an implicit argument: that parish churches, and the things that occurred within them, reflected the particular social circumstances of that parish community. From laypeople providing funds for the upkeep of their churches (80) to guilds (the guild of a saint, for example) establishing side-chapels for their devotional purposes, Orme's illustration of the medieval parish church is an idiosyncratic one.
But this idiosyncratic argument, I think, could have gone further. In various chapters, Orme mentions the 'cult of saints' and its crucial relationship to parochial churchgoing. As well as describing how devotion to saints was given in prayers (during Mass) and on saints' days, Orme stresses that "the patron saint was venerated at the high altar, by which his or her statue stood, and some people had a special devotion to the saint as a personal patron as well." Given how crucial the saints were in the devotional lives of churchgoers – as Eamon Duffy and Kathleen Kamerick have argued – I think Orme could have dedicated an entire chapter to them. I suspect he may have been conscious of concision, but placing a 'saints' chapter between the 'Congregation' chapter and the 'Day and the Week' chapter would have bolstered the book's force. This is a churlish criticism, though: it reflects my personal interest in the veneration of saints in late medieval England!
Orme has, then, written a dense yet exceedingly engaging survey of medieval churchgoing in England. Of course, dense bibliography, as well as the wealth of primary sources he draws upon, will be of much use to students of 'popular' religion in medieval England. But Orme's clear, direct and guiding prose extends the work into the realm of 'popular history'. And not the tawdry kind.
Such a comprehensive understanding derives largely from the mountain of detail included by Orme. But this detail does not belittle the casual reader, or leave the student feeling like they have wasted their time. Instead, he takes a well-organised thematic approach. It introduces casual readers to all of the multifaceted aspects of 'going to Church' in his period, while also citing sources that would prove useful to students and researchers. It also ensures that, in later chapters, the reader does not become confused by the terminology he uses.
Orme, rightfully, begins with the basics. The first chapter outlines how, in the twelfth century, the 'parish' – along with chapels and other sites of worship – developed from the abundance of minsters (early cathedrals) spreading into rural areas, where the population was growing. The second chapter then focusses on the various clerical workers who staffed the parish church, including clerical assistants, vicars, chaplains, rectors, and deacons. The third then elaborates on the various architectural features of a parish church, such as the chancel and the nave, and explains their function, how they differed, and how they changed and expanded in the late medieval period. The fourth, finally, focusses on the different kinds of people one would find (or not find!) in church, such as the wealthy, and chronicles the differing ways laypeople acted and behaved in churches.
Having explained these crucial aspects of the parish church, his focus shifts to liturgy. The fifth chapter concerns the various services that were to be conducted each week and every day, such as the Holy Office and the Mass. The fifth then focusses on the Christian liturgical year, maintaining an emphasis on the peculiarities of festivals like Rogation Week and Candlemas. The sixth chapter concerns the Reformation. It explains – in impressive concision – how, despite the liturgical changes set forth in the Prayer Books of 1549, 1552 and 1559, many aspects of medieval parochial religion outlasted the Reformation, such as fasting on holy days like Easter.
This incremental structure, I think, is aided greatly by Orme's use of a wide range of sources. Like all fine works of historiography, Orme 're-enacts' the world of medieval churchgoing in a quasi-Collingwoodian way. He achieves this re-enacting by not merely engaging with clerical instructions, such as those set forth at Fourth Lateran Council or the Council of Lambeth. Instead, he supplements these 'official' edicts with anecdotes from poems (such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!), biographies (like Margery Kempe's), objects such as rood screens and altars, individual writers like John Mirk or Polydore Vergil, and even schoolbooks! This wealth of material makes the reader, in a sense, inhabit the multifarious world of the medieval parish church.
In the introduction, Orme rather humbly claims the book "does not attempt to argue a particular thesis about medieval parish churches. This is not possible given a coverage of hundreds of years, thousands of churches, and millions of people." (2) Yet, I think the book does make an implicit argument: that parish churches, and the things that occurred within them, reflected the particular social circumstances of that parish community. From laypeople providing funds for the upkeep of their churches (80) to guilds (the guild of a saint, for example) establishing side-chapels for their devotional purposes, Orme's illustration of the medieval parish church is an idiosyncratic one.
But this idiosyncratic argument, I think, could have gone further. In various chapters, Orme mentions the 'cult of saints' and its crucial relationship to parochial churchgoing. As well as describing how devotion to saints was given in prayers (during Mass) and on saints' days, Orme stresses that "the patron saint was venerated at the high altar, by which his or her statue stood, and some people had a special devotion to the saint as a personal patron as well." Given how crucial the saints were in the devotional lives of churchgoers – as Eamon Duffy and Kathleen Kamerick have argued – I think Orme could have dedicated an entire chapter to them. I suspect he may have been conscious of concision, but placing a 'saints' chapter between the 'Congregation' chapter and the 'Day and the Week' chapter would have bolstered the book's force. This is a churlish criticism, though: it reflects my personal interest in the veneration of saints in late medieval England!
Orme has, then, written a dense yet exceedingly engaging survey of medieval churchgoing in England. Of course, dense bibliography, as well as the wealth of primary sources he draws upon, will be of much use to students of 'popular' religion in medieval England. But Orme's clear, direct and guiding prose extends the work into the realm of 'popular history'. And not the tawdry kind.
January 2, 2023
The level of detail made this feel more like a reference book than the readable social history I had hoped for. Perhaps greater use could have been made of footnotes. Still, a good reminder that the way faith is practiced has always been more complex and diverse than it's tempting to assume.
June 30, 2022
I almost never give a book five stars, but I'm giving this one five stars because of the wealth of information in a readable form. I had read some of this before, but never all in one place and in so accessible a form. I almost wish I had bought it instead of borrowing it from the library.
Want to read
August 27, 2021John Wilson's review here: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclu...
November 19, 2024
This is a book about worship and attendance of the medieval church in England. Specifically, the book focuses on parish worship, that is, worship for the populace in villages and towns (as opposed to monasteries and cathedrals, where worship was for their members). It consists of nine chapters: Origins and the Parish, The Staff of the Church, The Church Building, The Congregation, The Day and the Week, The Seasons and the Year, The Life Cycle, The Reformation and Reflections.
It is a very detailed study and can be a bit dry at times. The breadth of information however, is incredible. The author researched numerous primary sources to get a broad idea of how people really responded to the church’s demands (tithes/taxes, holy days, weekly worship). Some were pious, others rebellious.
Rather than a chronological overview, the book tackles a subject and shows how it changed over time. I personally found the two chapters on liturgy and how it worked from day to day and over the course of the year (chapters 5 and 6) the most fascinating. It’s really hard to get a firm understanding of how church practice occurred beyond reading primary sources (like the missal or breviary), so a book explaining now only how the services went, but also how they differed as they year progressed was very helpful. The book includes a lot of details about various ceremonies (baptism, marriages, etc) as well.
There are a decent number of colour illustrations throughout the book.
I learned so much from this book. From seemingly simple things like the difference between a rector and a vicar, to how much medieval practice survived the Reformation’s attempts at reform. If you’re interested in the Catholic church, how churches were run in the middle ages, or liturgy and religious practices in England, you really need to pick this up.
It is a very detailed study and can be a bit dry at times. The breadth of information however, is incredible. The author researched numerous primary sources to get a broad idea of how people really responded to the church’s demands (tithes/taxes, holy days, weekly worship). Some were pious, others rebellious.
Rather than a chronological overview, the book tackles a subject and shows how it changed over time. I personally found the two chapters on liturgy and how it worked from day to day and over the course of the year (chapters 5 and 6) the most fascinating. It’s really hard to get a firm understanding of how church practice occurred beyond reading primary sources (like the missal or breviary), so a book explaining now only how the services went, but also how they differed as they year progressed was very helpful. The book includes a lot of details about various ceremonies (baptism, marriages, etc) as well.
There are a decent number of colour illustrations throughout the book.
I learned so much from this book. From seemingly simple things like the difference between a rector and a vicar, to how much medieval practice survived the Reformation’s attempts at reform. If you’re interested in the Catholic church, how churches were run in the middle ages, or liturgy and religious practices in England, you really need to pick this up.
July 13, 2025
An amazing book. A fully comprehensive and detailed account of the changing practices in the church and more importantly the people involved, from congregations to the clergy.
The book takes a lot of time to get through, due to the detail, but it helps that it covers matters in the calendar year, therefore helping the reader understand how the seasons and festivals were observed.
I visit many medieval churches and often wonder at the changes seen in the past 1000 years. Defaced rood screens, niches for saints and idols, still remain but have no use. What would it have been like for the clergy and public during the reformation? This book has really helped clarify some of these points but also dispelled myths, especially around church attendance and the role of the congregation but also in the speed of the reformation. The pattern of the Catholic Church calendar was complex and must have been inaccessible for most.
The book does not go into significant detail on the reasons for the transfer of church power from Rome to the King, instead focuses on the changes that Cromwell and then Cranmer made to liturgy and the first universal prayer books.
It’s a superb book and has enhanced my understanding. Now when I visit a medieval churches I will think of how it must have been for the clergy and congregations.
The book takes a lot of time to get through, due to the detail, but it helps that it covers matters in the calendar year, therefore helping the reader understand how the seasons and festivals were observed.
I visit many medieval churches and often wonder at the changes seen in the past 1000 years. Defaced rood screens, niches for saints and idols, still remain but have no use. What would it have been like for the clergy and public during the reformation? This book has really helped clarify some of these points but also dispelled myths, especially around church attendance and the role of the congregation but also in the speed of the reformation. The pattern of the Catholic Church calendar was complex and must have been inaccessible for most.
The book does not go into significant detail on the reasons for the transfer of church power from Rome to the King, instead focuses on the changes that Cromwell and then Cranmer made to liturgy and the first universal prayer books.
It’s a superb book and has enhanced my understanding. Now when I visit a medieval churches I will think of how it must have been for the clergy and congregations.
July 20, 2025
This is book 11 of my 20 books of summer 2025.
this is one of those books that I didn't know I wanted to read, but am very glad I picked it up and read it!! It's so readable and brilliantly written that it covers every aspect of medieval life and how the communities lived during those times, and how the church was at the heart of it all.
The research is extensive and no stone seems to have been left unturned as to what role the church played at that time. It looks into how churches came to be, how they were run and funded and all that follows! It looks at the social history of the people, the scandals, the changes over the years plus so much more!! There's so much to take in and it's one of those books you can dip in and out of, and learn something new from everytime you read it. It also gives a great overview of the changing times including the reformation and how that impacted and there's some wonderful illustrations and photographs as well which just add to the wonderful reading experience!
this is one of those books that I didn't know I wanted to read, but am very glad I picked it up and read it!! It's so readable and brilliantly written that it covers every aspect of medieval life and how the communities lived during those times, and how the church was at the heart of it all.
The research is extensive and no stone seems to have been left unturned as to what role the church played at that time. It looks into how churches came to be, how they were run and funded and all that follows! It looks at the social history of the people, the scandals, the changes over the years plus so much more!! There's so much to take in and it's one of those books you can dip in and out of, and learn something new from everytime you read it. It also gives a great overview of the changing times including the reformation and how that impacted and there's some wonderful illustrations and photographs as well which just add to the wonderful reading experience!
October 15, 2025
A fascinating revelation of what it was like to go to church in medieval England. I do have great admiration and respect for the Nicholas Orme's thoroughness. He sees the question from so many different angles and considers so many primary sources I feel confident I've been given an authoritative account of a strange time that still resonates in Church practices today. It is still 'compulsory' for Churchwardens to attend a 'Visitation' and when I was a Warden I was a little surprised by how heavy-handed the service felt - there is still an echo of its disciplinary role, of its medieval purpose, when the Bishop would cast a judgmental eye over a parish's activities. I never knew, until reading this book, that attendance at Church was compulsory and that offenders were punished by exclusion or excommunication. It was also fascinating that the church was a rather worldly sort of organisation - a source of further income for the wealthy, as much as the Church itself, while going to Church gave the nobility and gentry the opportunity to parade and exercise their social superiority.
May 16, 2023
An extremely comprehensive account of what the Catholic Church in England was like during the medieval period. At times it might have been a little too detailed. That being said, it was exceedingly interesting and really adds light to how and why the Reformation came to be. The illustrations scattered throughout the book are wonderful. The sources used were exhaustive including church documents, liturgical texts, archeological findings, etc. I love to visit and explore old churches and this was the next best thing. I was occasionally troubled by some word usage - for example: referring to the elevation of the body and blood of Christ as the elevation of the wafer and chalice, mistaking the tabernacle above the altar for a pyx and referencing the liturgy as a "performance." Still, I learned so much from reading this book and look forward to a visit to England to see some of the churches mentioned.
September 4, 2024
Not going to lie, this book was pretty dry. But I definitely learned a lot not only about medieval England, but also about how scholars try to understand medieval congregations. I thought it was very interesting how the author identified issues that were discussed by proclamations or condemned by bishops as evidence of behavior. He compared these “unacceptable” things with other behaviors that wouldn’t take place in modern churches, but presumably did in medieval ones. I appreciated his logic and rational analysis about human behavior. How long would someone, some child, sit through a service in a language they don’t speak? Or stand? How would the rustling of many people standing affect the atmosphere? How did local traditions inevitably make their way into religious ceremonies? How did people find social connections within the parish?
Proud of myself for finishing it!
Proud of myself for finishing it!
March 27, 2024
A good book that is clearly well-researched and thought out. It started and ended well, but lagged a lot in the middle. This is likely because the subject matter just wasn't interesting to me. Lots of interesting information (and some less so) made it well worth reading, even if it wasn't the most interesting. What is quite surprising is the fact that medieval and early modern society did not hold the church in the reverence that we would expect, and even the church itself was not wholly rigid in its beliefs. The latter point should not be very surprising, given what the Catholics get up to, but is quite revealing and encourages a more nuanced perception of this period of history.
November 17, 2023
Exceptional but careful insight
Orme is at great pains to acknowledge what cannot be known or is beyond the scope of the book, yet it still gives an at times thrilling sense of churchgoing in a different world.
You won't find imaginative recreations here, but you will explore the sheer specificity and variety of experiences that made up medieval relationships with the church, and some insights such as those pertaining to the still-familiar sacraments such as baptism, marriages and funerals are truly touching.
Orme is at great pains to acknowledge what cannot be known or is beyond the scope of the book, yet it still gives an at times thrilling sense of churchgoing in a different world.
You won't find imaginative recreations here, but you will explore the sheer specificity and variety of experiences that made up medieval relationships with the church, and some insights such as those pertaining to the still-familiar sacraments such as baptism, marriages and funerals are truly touching.
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