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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
It does seem unlikely that women could not enter the church, even St Augustine's letter (which might not be authentic, but was thought so in the Middle Ages) says they can enter after childbirth and during menstruation if the need. 

As to the the tavern accusation, people undoubtedly drank in the church and church yard. I wonder if you textbook author is thinking of church ales, which were a form of fund-raising. Not sure this makes the church or church yard a tavern though. These textbook accusations seem kind of filtered through reformers' accusations.
Katherine French
On Nov 13, 2013, at 10:47 PM, John Shinners <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Two questions about claims in a textbook I use:

 

1. “In some cases” the village church and tavern “were actually the same building, though not at the same time.”  I’ve never heard this and it seems at the least “uncanonical.”  True?

 

2.  “In some northern areas [of Europe], women were forbidden from entering their parish church or even setting foot on its land.”  This one seems especially unlikely to me, except perhaps during the few weeks before they were churched after childbirth. Could it be true?

 

I await enlightenment.

 

Best,

John


--
John Shinners 
Professor, Schlesinger Chair in Humanistic Studies 
Saint Mary's College 
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 
Phone: 574-284-4494 or 574-284-4534 
Fax: 284-4855 
www.saintmarys.edu/~hust 

"Learn everything. Later you will see that nothing is superfluous." -- Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141)
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