Constitutions (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798348541125)

In 1367, John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, issued a set of constitutions aimed at promoting church decorum and safeguarding the spiritual well-being of the faithful. He prohibited markets, fairs, and games on sacred days, emphasizing that churches should be houses of prayer rather than places of trade. Additionally, he condemned dishonorable games during vigils and funerals, urging congregants to engage in prayer and reflection instead. Thoresby also reaffirmed prior synodal statutes regarding the stipends of priests, ensuring that ecclesiastical laws would be upheld and enforced to maintain order and reverence within the church.