DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0044
12
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
From the first introduction of Christianity into England, its ministers were
munificently rewarded for the benefits which they dispensed. Augustine himself
obtained from the King of Kent a grant of the city of Canterbury, with its depen-
dencies. In the succeeding ages, the Saxon princes and thanes were continually
making donations of lands and goods to the church. Civil jurisdiction, a pro-
ductive source of revenue, was expressed or implied in many of these grants.
The avaricious ecclesiastics were not contented with the spontaneous offerings of
their flocks, but exhorted, persuaded, and terrified their ignorant and credulous
hearers until they obtained from them a very considerable part of their property.
The dying were taught to purchase the prayers of the church, and to seek atone-
ment for their sins by donations to its ministers and to the poor, for the latter of
whom the clergy were trustees. The penitent and devout evinced their pious
sentiments by voluntary oblations of goods and provisions. The principal source,
however, of ecclesiastical revenue, was tithes, which were rigorously levied, not
only from the produce of the earth, but on every species of annual produce,
including the profits of merchandise and of military service.30 Under the names
of plough-alms, kirk-shot, soul-shot, and leot-shot, other contributions towards
the support of the clergy, the repairs of their buildings, and the expenses of
religious ceremonies constantly exercised the piety of the faithful at home ; while
the Rome-scot, Peter-pence, or royal alms, granted by Offa, King of Mercia,
and confirmed by Alfred, the pilgrimages of the Saxon nobles to Rome, and to
other foreign churches distinguished by the possession of celebrated relics, with
their prodigal donations of gold, jewels, and even land, to foreign ecclesiastics,
evinced not only the superstition of the times, but the gross political ignorance
which prevailed.
While we remember that a portion of the revenues of the church was intended
for, and appropriated to the poor, for whom no legal provision then existed, it is
at the same time necessary to consider, that the really helpless poor (the legitimate
objects of charity) were not numerous in this country, until manufactures had
diverted the energies of the labourer to pursuits, which, unlike agriculture, are
liable to sudden interruptions from external circumstances, and often cease, un-
expectedly, to require or reward his exertions.
The privilege of sanctuary, by which the church protected offenders from the
30 Wilkins's Concilia, vol. i. p. 107. 208.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
From the first introduction of Christianity into England, its ministers were
munificently rewarded for the benefits which they dispensed. Augustine himself
obtained from the King of Kent a grant of the city of Canterbury, with its depen-
dencies. In the succeeding ages, the Saxon princes and thanes were continually
making donations of lands and goods to the church. Civil jurisdiction, a pro-
ductive source of revenue, was expressed or implied in many of these grants.
The avaricious ecclesiastics were not contented with the spontaneous offerings of
their flocks, but exhorted, persuaded, and terrified their ignorant and credulous
hearers until they obtained from them a very considerable part of their property.
The dying were taught to purchase the prayers of the church, and to seek atone-
ment for their sins by donations to its ministers and to the poor, for the latter of
whom the clergy were trustees. The penitent and devout evinced their pious
sentiments by voluntary oblations of goods and provisions. The principal source,
however, of ecclesiastical revenue, was tithes, which were rigorously levied, not
only from the produce of the earth, but on every species of annual produce,
including the profits of merchandise and of military service.30 Under the names
of plough-alms, kirk-shot, soul-shot, and leot-shot, other contributions towards
the support of the clergy, the repairs of their buildings, and the expenses of
religious ceremonies constantly exercised the piety of the faithful at home ; while
the Rome-scot, Peter-pence, or royal alms, granted by Offa, King of Mercia,
and confirmed by Alfred, the pilgrimages of the Saxon nobles to Rome, and to
other foreign churches distinguished by the possession of celebrated relics, with
their prodigal donations of gold, jewels, and even land, to foreign ecclesiastics,
evinced not only the superstition of the times, but the gross political ignorance
which prevailed.
While we remember that a portion of the revenues of the church was intended
for, and appropriated to the poor, for whom no legal provision then existed, it is
at the same time necessary to consider, that the really helpless poor (the legitimate
objects of charity) were not numerous in this country, until manufactures had
diverted the energies of the labourer to pursuits, which, unlike agriculture, are
liable to sudden interruptions from external circumstances, and often cease, un-
expectedly, to require or reward his exertions.
The privilege of sanctuary, by which the church protected offenders from the
30 Wilkins's Concilia, vol. i. p. 107. 208.