Church & Crown

Home

All Timelines

This Module
- How great was the spiritual and political power of the Church in medieval England? A sixth of the population were in holy orders, answerable to the Pope - and this put a strain on relations between the King and the Church, as the story of Thomas Becket reveals.
- Credits
  - Written and Presented by Andrew Chater
    
    Location Photography: Mark Robinson
    Illustrations: Tom Judd
    Original Music: Sandy Nuttgens
    Graphic Design: Adams Trainor
    Assistant Producer: Laura Pasquali
    Production Manager: Denise Lesley
    Film Editor: Mike Burton
    Exec. Producer: Karen Johnson
    
    Produced and Directed by Andrew Chater
    
    Copyright: Lodestar Productions / Andrew Chater

Message Board

Contact us

History of Britain - Rulers & Ruled

2.Church & Crown

1170

The story of Thomas Becket reveals the uneasy balance of power between Church and State in medieval England. (4 mins)

3.Magna Carta

1215 next video 3/17

Chapter Breakdown

: 1. Who ruled in medieval England? Kings? Barons? ... To medieval minds, the ultimate power was God.

: 2. The uneasy relationship between Church and Crown. The Church was outside the King's control.

: 3. The story of Henry II and Thomas Becket, his 'troublesome' Archbishop.

: 4. The legacy of the Becket story: the power of the Church, unchallenged for another 400 years.

We filmed the opening piece to camera in the module at Kilpeck Church in Herefordshire, one of the finest Norman churches in England. We visit the church in more detail in another module in the resource - see 'Medieval Minds'. The carvings around the door and roof of Kilpeck are extraordinary.

The rest of the resource was shot on the Canterbury pilgrim trail, and at Canterbury Cathedral. It's one of the most commercial of England's cathedrals, which leaves a rather sour taste in the mouth. There's an ugly memorial in the side chapel where Becket met his death.