Harry Mount

They weren’t all that pious in the good old days

Nicholas Orme describes how villagers in medieval England defaced parish churches with graffiti and brought their weapons, hawks and hounds to services

Villagers arrive at church for Candlemas accompanied by their dogs. From a book of hours by Simon Bening, c.1550 [Getty Images] 
issue 31 July 2021
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  • Going to Church in Medieval England

    Nicholas Orme

    Yale, pp. 496, £20

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