Clergy - GCSE History Definition

The clergy are people who have been given special roles in the Christian Church, like priests, bishops, or ministers. They lead religious services, give advice, and help people follow their faith. In the past, they were also very important in politics, education, and society. In GCSE History, understanding the clergy is important because they had a lot of power and influence. For example, after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror made big changes to the Church in England. He replaced most Anglo-Saxon clergy with Normans, so he could trust them and keep more control over the country. In the 1500s, Elizabeth I also made important changes. As part of her Religious Settlement, she made all clergy take an oath of loyalty to her and wear specific clothing in churches. These changes helped her create a middle way between Catholic and Protestant beliefs and keep control of religion in England.