It is my understanding that towers were substantially developed during the Carolingian period. Although not all towers had bells installed in them, the vast majority did, and bells were an integral part of the way that churches functioned. The Rites of Durham is particularly eloquent on the way that the various bells functioned there, with the three bells in the central tower rung to announce the monastic offices, while the four bells in the northwest tower, the "Galilee Steeple" rung at principal feasts and "such other times as the Bishop did come to town". The great bell in the Galilee Steeple was also rung on Sundays to announce the services to people in the surrounding area. Certain bells would also be rung to commemorate benefactors. Bells also functioned as important indicators of ecclesiastical rights and privileges. This is particularly clear in the controversies from the mid-13th century over the building of chapels at monastic agricultural estates. The main point of contention in this matter was the potential contravention of existing ecclesiastical jurisdictions. When the monks of the Cistercian house of Waverley, for instance, sought the right to celebrate mass at their grange at Neatham in the mid-13th century, "they agreed to permit neither the ringing of bells nor the administration of the sacraments at their grange". And at Chartres in 1362, the nuns of Notre-Dame de l'Eau were forced to destroy the belfry that previously had adorned the chapel of their town establishment at Chartres, because they had had contravened a privilege of the dean and chapter by building the chapel without a licence to do so.
It has been pointed out that this is an ignored topic. Certainly true, but I have heard of a recent book on church towers in Yorkshire; sorry I don't have an exact reference.
Cheers,
Jim

From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Jon Cannon [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: July 31, 2012 8:38 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Origin of church towers/minarets

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Funnily enough, that's one of my reasons for asking. So I have good material on minarets: Krautheimer's Islamic Architecture (1986) is among works with a detailed discussion, which you may find useful. In short, they are early, but significantly later than the architecture of the mosque itself; however they predate the period when churches are being converted to mosques (though there were many standing and functioning churches in the lansdscape in which mosques were first built); also their original function is in doubt.

There seems little doubt that existing church towers predated minarets and were a major influence on them -- what I'm looking for now is something equally authoritative on the origin of church towers.

Jon

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Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:20:17 -0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Origin of church towers
To: [log in to unmask]

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
A study of church towers would be particularly interesting if linked in to minarets. I am thinking of Spain/Andalus where there was an apparent "flaunting" of bells/call to worship in the respective Christian/Muslim areas (according to a paper I heard read at a conference), and a full cycle of Church -- Mosque -- Church again happened with some buildings, and Hagia Sophia where minarets were added after 1453.

On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 8:46 AM, Jon Cannon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Does anyone have any good references on the subject of the origin of church towers? They are remarkably neglected by the standard works on early Christian/Byzantine/Carolingian architecture.

Jon

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Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:36:55 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Motives for donations to churches/monasteries
To: [log in to unmask]

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear John,

A good story is the foundation of the Cistercian house of Hauterive (Santa Maria de Alta Ripa) in what was then Burgundy and is now Switzerland. BTW This is still a flourishing Cistercian monastry. Google under <Hauterive> to find their website with some very nice pics.

It was founded by Lord William of Glane in 1138 in memory of his father Peter, and eldest brother Ulrich, who were murdered at the Benedictine monastery of Payerne in February 1127 along with William "the Child" Duke of Burgundy. It was a political assassination, Duke William being the prime target and the de Glanes being among his loyal supporters. Indeed, I suspect that Ulrich de Glane was Duke William's "chamber child" - and in the dark who would distinguish one young man in his shirt for another ? It is also possible that Peter's brother, Philip de Glane, died in the same incident which was almost certainly inspired by a pro-imperial faction while Duke William (who had probably just come of age) was either pro-French or pro independence. Subsequently the Emperor Lothair III made Conrad of Zaeringen "Rector" of Burgundy - he was NOT the lawful heir but the brother of William the Child's mother Anne!!! (Shades of Richard III !!!)

William of Glane gave his entire partimony to found Hautrive, joined the order as a lay brother and is said to have personally overseen the demolition of the family castle and the transport of the materials to the site where the new monastry was to be built.

The gap of almost ten years between the murder and the donation is variously explained, the usual explanation being that William was waiting to see whether the pro-Burgundian/French or pro-Imperial faction triumphed in the subsequent civil war. My own theory is that he had to wait ten years for his youngest sister to reach marriagable age (12) and dower her, then he would know that all he had left he was free to give to the church. It is also possible that he had been briefly married and widowed without an heir.

For a popular account see

M-Stanislas Barbey, "Vision de paix: L'Abbaye cistercienne d'Hauterive dans son cadre historique et spirituel." (Fribourg: Imp. St-Paul, 1951.)

For the most detailed scholarly account

Romain Pittet, "L'Abbaye d'Hauterive au moyen age," (Fribourg: Imp Fragniere freres, 1934) Archives de la Societe d'Histoire du Cantom de Fribourg, t. 13)

Brenda M Cook

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank"> John Wickstrom

To: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank"> [log in to unmask]

Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 8:14 PM

Subject: [M-R] Motives for donations to churches/monasteries

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear learned list members,

I am in search of different motives for giving land, etc. to churches and monasteries, particularly in the period c. 800-1150; statements either by the donors themselves or the clerics commenting on the donations. Is there any source, primary or modern, where such statements of motives can be found?
Thanks,
John W.

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