Question

How powerful was the Anglo-Saxon church?

Answer 1

The power of the Church is often over-emphasised. Certainly, the later medieval Church was rich and powerful, and that power was often misused - especially in Europe. Bishops and archbishops were appointed without any training or clerical background, church offices changed hands for cash, and so on. But that was long after our period. The authority of the early medieval Church in England was no different to that of any other landowner.

So how did people in the tenth/eleventh century act towards a cleric? According to the laws of the period, a priest had the rank of thegn (he was one of 'God's thegns'), and a bishop was at least the level of an eolderman. Don't get too misled by Hollywood's image of popular contempt for, and corruption within, the clergy.

hope i helped