Medieval Poor Law: A Sketch of Canonical Theory and Its Application in England

In Medieval Poor Law: A Sketch of Canonical Theory and Its Application in England, Brian Tierney provides an insightful and groundbreaking exploration of the Church’s pivotal role in the development of social services during the Middle Ages. Expanding on lectures delivered at UCLA, Tierney examines the canonical framework established by the Decretum of Gratian in 1140 and its evolution through subsequent centuries of ecclesiastical legislation and commentary. He reveals how the Church funct...