THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES - 9th CENTURY

In England and France, the Church was greatly influenced by Alcuin (735-804), the Abbot of St. Martins in Tours. He served Emperor Charlemagne as an educator and theologian.

Among Alcuin's students was Rabanus Maurus (785-856) the German evangelist who was later to become the archbishop of Mainz.

Anselm (1033-1109) was a prolific writer (as most of history's influential leaders have been) who later became the archbishop of Canterbury in 1093.

One of the most influential figures of the era was Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), who influenced kings and popes. He was considered the uncrowned ruler of Europe and was feared by non-Christian (since he organised and encouraged crusades against Turks) and Christian alike (he sentenced Christian leaders to death).

Among those who felt the wrath of Bernard was another prominent leader, Peter Abelard (1079-1142) who became the Canon of Notre Dame Cathedral in 1116, and the Abbott of St. Gildas-de-Rhuys in 1125. The two disagreed vehemently over the doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement of Christ.