The 14th-Century Black Death and the Church of England’s Response

Abstract

The Black Death spread to Britain in 1348 and rapidly spread to various regions, bringing an indelible impact on the British population, economic and social order. The subject of this paper is the English church’s response to the Black Death and the impact on the church after the plague. In the concept of “scourge”, the church regarded the plague as God’s punishment for the people. In response, it mainly confessed and prayed, and established new cemeteries to bury the increasing dead, and strengthened the supplement of vacant church positions. Although these measures have not achieved much effect, they have partly helped to quell social panic. After the Black Death, the public and intellectuals gradually produced disappointment and skeptical attitude towards the church, and various anti-church heresy rose, people began to pay attention to their own happiness, people-centered and opposed the divinity, which not only promoted the liberation of the mind, but also enhanced the optimistic and enterprising spirit.