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You will find the following sections here:
BACKGROUND TO THE DISSOLUTION

THE DISSOLUTION IN NORWICH AND ITS EFFECT

In April 1536, there were over 800 monasteries, nunneries, and friaries scattered throughout England and Wales. By April 1540 there were NONE. The major religious and social upheaval during these four years is known as the DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.

Background to the Dissolution

Religious disputes had continued between the cathedral and the city during the medieval period, as conflict on an international scale boiled between Catholic and Protestant. You have probably studied the disputes between Catholics and Protestants during your Making of the United Kingdom lessons. You will certainly have studied the character and policies of King Henry VIII. It is in class time and discussions with your teachers that you must decide that when Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries, was he:
 
• Driven by his own religious ideas to change a Church system that had become corrupt?
• Acting out of political necessity to raise money?
• A greedy king eager to increase his own personal wealth?
• Whatever you decide, the next section will tell you how the dissolution affected Norwich Cathedral monastery and the rest of the city.

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The Dissolution in Norwich and its Effect

On 2nd May 1538, monastic rule at Norwich Cathedral ended after over 440 years of existence. Though much was destroyed or fell into disuse during the Dissolution, services continued at the cathedral, and the transition was easy compared to other religious houses.
So what happened exactly?
• Norwich was the first cathedral priory to be dissolved, but was refounded immediately to continue much as it had done previously.
• It was refounded as a secular cathedral served by a Dean and Chapter in place of the Prior and monks.
• William Castleton, the last Prior, became the first Dean.
• Many of the 31 monks filled new positions, such as the required 8 singing men. Some of the younger monks became parish priests.
• There were more than 100 officers and subordinates - some of these were given pensions, but the majority were probably kept on doing the same job under the new system as they had done under the old.
• The practice of eating together and the feeling of community was difficult to keep going.
• The monastic buildings lost their purpose and so suffered badly. Some were partly destroyed, whilst others were converted into houses for the cathedral staff. The Prior's House became the Deanery which it remains to this day.
• Services were translated from Latin into English by order of Edward VI, with the first English Prayer Book being introduced in 1549.


The Deanery		 What effect did the Dissolution have on the city of Norwich?

Your class studies should give you an idea of what was happening on a national and international scale during the Dissolution. There are always differences of opinion amongst historians as to how major changes like this affected religion, society, and the economy.

You will now be presented with two different opinions as to how the Dissolution affected the city of Norwich, and you must make up your mind which one you think is more likely. Remember to use other evidence you have gathered from school to make your judgement.

Opinion A
• The closure of the cathedral priory and of over 20 parish churches and 6 monasteries within the city had very damaging effects.
• The local economy suffered because the religious communities had been very wealthy and had bought goods and services from local traders and merchants.
• The religious communities had also provided physical care, education, and spiritual support for Norwich. This was now reduced.
• There was a huge loss of architectural and artistic treasures.

Opinion B
• The social and economic effects of the Dissolution have been exaggerated.
• No great number of beggars was suddenly thrown out on the street because monastic charity had only been of marginal significance anyway.
• No educational disaster followed, because the monks teaching had been mainly directed towards their own novices, and not people from outside.
• The most noticeable social change brought about was the ending of pilgrimages.

You must now study the evidence from these pages and from school, to make your decision as to how the Dissolution appears to have affected society at large.

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What makes Norwich Cathedral a Christian place of worship?

The Normans and the Benedictine monks at Norwich Cathedral.

A fearsome account of riots and natural disasters at Norwich Cathedral.

How the bitter Civil War between king and parliament affected the Cathedral in the 1640s.

See and find out about some of the beautiful art (paintings, sculptures, glasswork, carvings) that the Cathedral has.