Wiltshire minster parochiae and West Saxon ecclesiastical organisation
This thesis examines the evidence for the parochial layout of Wiltshire in the Anglo-Saxon period, and through a detailed examination of surviving sources reconstructs a network of minsters and their parochiae for much of Wiltshire. Extensive case-studies of certain areas both emphasise the potential difficulties of interpretation when undertaking such reconstruction, and reinforce the main tenets of the 'minter hypothesis'. Evidence for connections with the secular administrative pattern is so strong as to indicate a late Saxon system of 'hundred minsters', but there is sufficient reason to suggest that this system was subject to alteration prior to 1086, in association with administrative adjustments and the growth of secular and ecclesiastical estates. These conclusions are reinforced by further discussion of lesser churches of Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire, some of which made significant local contributions to the late Saxon parochial layout. Comparison with case studies from other parts of the south suggests that the conclusions of this study have a general validity for the development of ecclesiastical organisation throughout Wessex.
Pitt, Jonathan Michael Andrew
History
Wiltshire minster parochiae and West Saxon ecclesiastical organisation. This thesis examines the evidence for the parochial layout of Wiltshire in the Anglo-Saxon period, and through a detailed examination of surviving sources reconstructs a network of minsters and their parochiae for much of Wiltshire. Extensive case-studies of certain areas both emphasise the potential difficulties of interpretation when undertaking such reconstruction, and reinforce the main tenets of the 'minter hypothesis'. Evidence for connections with the secular administrative pattern is so strong as to indicate a late Saxon system of 'hundred minsters', but there is sufficient reason to suggest that this system was subject to alteration prior to 1086, in association with administrative adjustments and the growth of secular and ecclesiastical estates. These conclusions are reinforced by further discussion of lesser churches of Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire, some of which made significant local contributions to the late Saxon parochial layout. Comparison with case studies from other parts of the south suggests that the conclusions of this study have a general validity for the development of ecclesiastical organisation throughout Wessex.
wiltshire minster west_saxon ecclesiastical organisation examines evidence parochial layout wiltshire anglo saxon_period detailed_examination survive source reconstruct network minster much wiltshire extensive case_studies certain_area emphasise potential difficulty interpretation undertake reconstruction reinforce main tenet hypothesis evidence connection secular administrative pattern strong indicate late_saxon system hundred minster sufficient reason suggest system subject alteration prior association administrative adjustment growth secular_ecclesiastical estate conclusion reinforce discussion lesser church anglo saxon wiltshire make_significant local contribution late_saxon parochial layout comparison case_study part south suggest conclusion study general validity development ecclesiastical organisation throughout wessex