pick★★★★★
Orme admirably covered his huge topic. I learned so much. The book was beautifully designed by Yale University Press.
English Christianity in the mediaeval period has become a major fascination of mine. I asked Tudor historian Norman Jones for a recommendation and I'm so glad he suggested this.
p. 271: 'It was better to award a light penance that would one day put someone into purgatory to endure further punishment there, than to assign a heavy one that would not be done and might send the defaulter to hell.'
That's not what I expected from medieval confessors. Unfortunately, Orme doesn't cite his source for this attitude.
On to the section about Holy Week, which is obviously timely.
p. 232: 'The fact that all were at rest after the working week in a spiritual and social environment may ... have been a source of comfort.'
p. 25: 'By the eleventh century... the church congregation formed a similar grouping to that of its members' everyday lives. One often began, continued, and ended one's spiritual life in the local church. One went there with one's neighbors. Most churches would grow in size in later times, but the essential parish church community had now been created.'
Started. Looking forward very much to learning what church was like for my ancestors. Recommended to me by Tudor historian Norman Jones.
#UniteAgainstBookBans and #LetUtahRead
Recent acquisitions:
📖 Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme
📖 The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation by Ian Mortimer
#UniteAgainstBookBans and #LetUtahRead
Going to Church in Medieval England | 
