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Medieval Times
Religion
There were two important parts to the church - the parish priests who lived in the villages and towns, and monks and nuns who lived in special communities called monasteries or nunneries.
They were separate from other people to allow monks and nuns to live as close as possible to the ideal way that Christians should live.
Everything was organised around worship. There were different types of monastery, but the one shown in the picture (a reconstruction of Sandwell Priory, near Birmingham) followed the Order of St Benedict.
St Benedict first set down his rules before the Norman Conquest. The day started with a service at 2 a.m., followed by another at 4 a.m. There would be a third service at 6 a.m. before any sign of breakfast.
Can you name the different parts of Sandwell Priory?
Click the picture for an answer.
The monasteries were large communities. Some were almost as big as medieval towns.
Monasteries were self sufficient. They worked their own farms, baked bread, kept bees to make candles for the church, brewed beer and mead (made from honey) and made their own clothes - habits.
Each monastery had a variety of specialists in charge of things like the library, accounts, clothes, dining hall and the farming of the land.
The monasteries ran most of the few schools and hospitals. Some pupils became monks or priests.
Almost all the books that were in existence were kept in monasteries. They had usually been written by monks, who were the main section of society able to read or write. The monks kept alive the tradition of illuminated manuscripts - decorated written documents.
There were not many inns outside towns, and monasteries (often found in remoteplaces) provided shelter and food for travellers. They also helped the poorest people with food or clothes.
The monasteries were a big employer, providing jobs for farm workers, servants and builders.
What aspects of the monks' work is being shown in the picture?
