Wolsey and the Church

Wolsey and the Church

Wolsey and the ChurchWolsey and the Church

• As Archbishop of York, Wolsey recognised the need for Church reform but he was only second in the Church hierarchy in England.

• Who was first?

• As Archbishop of York, Wolsey recognised the need for Church reform but he was only second in the Church hierarchy in England.

• Who was first?

• By 1518 Wolsey had been appointed legate a latere. This meant that he had the supreme authority of the Pope. Usually these powers only lasted for a limited and specific purpose but by 1524 Henry and Wolsey had persuaded the Pope to give him indefinite legatine powers to undertake a reform of the Church in England.

• By 1518 Wolsey had been appointed legate a latere. This meant that he had the supreme authority of the Pope. Usually these powers only lasted for a limited and specific purpose but by 1524 Henry and Wolsey had persuaded the Pope to give him indefinite legatine powers to undertake a reform of the Church in England.

Improving the clergyImproving the clergy

• Wolsey planned to improve the educational standards of the clergy by founding grammar schools throughout the country and a new college at Oxford, Cardinal College.

• Wolsey planned to improve the educational standards of the clergy by founding grammar schools throughout the country and a new college at Oxford, Cardinal College.

Grammar schoolsGrammar schools

• Grammar schools were very slow to appear and by the time of Wolsey’s downfall only one had been created, in Ipswich, Wolsey’s home town.

• Grammar schools were very slow to appear and by the time of Wolsey’s downfall only one had been created, in Ipswich, Wolsey’s home town.

Cardinal CollegeCardinal College• Cardinal College was built on the site

of a priory which Wolsey suppressed and its revenues passed to the college along with those of 20 other monasteries which he also suppressed. When Wolsey fell from power Cardinal College was closed down by Henry. However, he eventually refounded it as Christ Church College.

• Cardinal College was built on the site of a priory which Wolsey suppressed and its revenues passed to the college along with those of 20 other monasteries which he also suppressed. When Wolsey fell from power Cardinal College was closed down by Henry. However, he eventually refounded it as Christ Church College.

• Cardinal College like Wolsey’s palaces of Hampton Court and York Place, was designed to glorify its founder. His coat of arms was displayed prominently and the college was named to glorify Wolsey rather than God or a saint.

• Cardinal College like Wolsey’s palaces of Hampton Court and York Place, was designed to glorify its founder. His coat of arms was displayed prominently and the college was named to glorify Wolsey rather than God or a saint.

Wolsey: reformer of the Church or abuser?

Wolsey: reformer of the Church or abuser?

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

• Wolsey used his legatine powers to claim fees and other ‘perks’ that had previously gone to bishops to maintain his lifestyle.

• He was Bishop of Lincoln, Durham and Winchester as well as Archbishop of York - ecclesiastical pluralism.

• He appointed non-resident Italians to vacant sees, paying them a stipend and keeping the surplus (absenteeism).

• He did not visit his own sees while in power (absenteeism).

• Wolsey used his legatine powers to claim fees and other ‘perks’ that had previously gone to bishops to maintain his lifestyle.

• He was Bishop of Lincoln, Durham and Winchester as well as Archbishop of York - ecclesiastical pluralism.

• He appointed non-resident Italians to vacant sees, paying them a stipend and keeping the surplus (absenteeism).

• He did not visit his own sees while in power (absenteeism).

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

• He had himself elected as abbot of the rich monastery at St Albans even though he was not a monk.

• He made other clergy pay him fees so that they could carry out their duties.

• He had himself elected as abbot of the rich monastery at St Albans even though he was not a monk.

• He made other clergy pay him fees so that they could carry out their duties.

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

• He interfered in appointments at all levels in the Church using his legatine powers, usually to bring him more money.

• He fathered a daughter who was placed in a nunnery and a son who was given lucrative church livings despite his vow of celibacy.

• He interfered in appointments at all levels in the Church using his legatine powers, usually to bring him more money.

• He fathered a daughter who was placed in a nunnery and a son who was given lucrative church livings despite his vow of celibacy.

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

Wolsey: reformer or abuser?

• However there is evidence that Wolsey had genuine religious beliefs although he also knew how to make a good living out of the Church. In this he was not new; what made him so noticeable was the scale of his abuse/practices.

• However there is evidence that Wolsey had genuine religious beliefs although he also knew how to make a good living out of the Church. In this he was not new; what made him so noticeable was the scale of his abuse/practices.

Did Wolsey do enough to reform the Church?

Did Wolsey do enough to reform the Church?

He dissolved some 30 religious houses between 1524 and 1529. However much of their endowments were still in his hands at his downfall.

He had the power to reform both the regular and secular clergy but in practice he did little.There were plans for reform for both but very little had been done by 1529.

He dissolved some 30 religious houses between 1524 and 1529. However much of their endowments were still in his hands at his downfall.

He had the power to reform both the regular and secular clergy but in practice he did little.There were plans for reform for both but very little had been done by 1529.

Did Wolsey do enough to reform the Church?

Did Wolsey do enough to reform the Church?

• Think!

• Why else might Wolsey not have made as much progress with his plans during the late 1520s?

• Think!

• Why else might Wolsey not have made as much progress with his plans during the late 1520s?

• Wolsey was allowed to control the Church by both the Pope and the King.

Think!

• Did this weaken the Church making it easier for Henry and Cromwell and their plans in the 1530s?

• Wolsey was allowed to control the Church by both the Pope and the King.

Think!

• Did this weaken the Church making it easier for Henry and Cromwell and their plans in the 1530s?