A Stroll through Church History Quiz

Answer: clerk in holy orders

Traditionally, in medieval and early modern times the clergy were the literate class. Therefore Clerk in holy orders, which is now seldom used, is correct.

Answer: Morton

Archbishop Morton served as Henry VII's Chancellor. The 'fork' in this instance wasn't an eating implement. It was a means of raising revenue for the King. Morton maintained if a nobleman lived modestly he could afford to pay more tax. If a peer lived extravagantly then he should pay more tax. Either way, the monarch won - and thus people were pronged with 'Morton's fork'.

Answer: False

During the later medieval period especially following the renaissance there was a move to reform the church. A growing number of people especially in the merchant class were questioning received beliefs. A growth in knowledge of the ancient Greek language in which the Septuagint and early Christian Gospels were written enabled scholars to refer to earlier texts.

Answer: Erasmus of Rotterdam

Erasmus stayed in England for some time. He was seeking preferment at court, but it failed to materialise.

Answer: Augustinian canon, professor, reformer, married man, hymnwriter

Martin Luther became a monk after graduating from university. This was against his father's wishes. He trained and became a Professor at Wittenberg. Following the break from Rome he and Katherine von Bora an ex-nun married - and they had six children. Luther also wrote hymns.

Answer: Laud

Archbishop Laud served during the reign of Charles I. Laud was beheaded just prior to the English Civil War. He had been an uncompromising maintainer of the status quo, and, eventually he paid the price for intransigence of his own and at the top.

Answer: John Donne

John Donne had led a most interesting life. His poetry which is metaphysical in form also contains puns. Initially from a Catholic family, he found employment as a gentleman secretary in his early manhood.

Answer: Dominicans

The Dominicans, originally founded in Spain, were called the Blackfriars due to their habit (uniform) being black.

Answer: Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth I, having observed the reign of her sister Mary I, aimed for a more peaceful reign. During Elizabeth's reign the Church of England became a rather 'broad church' in the sense of a breadth of interpretation was permissible. With peace in the realm the arts and exploration could and did flourish.

Answer: Archbishops of Canterbury and York

In the medieval period communications were slow. Both Canterbury and York laid claim to Primacy. To this day York is Primate of England. Canterbury is Primate of All England. In practice, York is Primate of the area North of the Trent.