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Lambeth Palace, London

Roman Emperors had been literally considered as gods. It was the transfer of faith away from emperors towards a Christian God and his earthly representatives that precipitated the Roman Empire's final collapse in the sixth and seventh centuries. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe's only real unifying influence was the Roman Catholic Church. St Augustine arrived in England in 597AD to reconvert the Anglo Saxons to Christianity, and founded Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishops of Canterbury then continued as the most powerful religious leaders in England. By 1200 they had taken possession of a palace at Lambeth on the Thames' south bank. Parts of the present building, such as the Undercroft survive from the original thirteenth century building. Other powerful bishops also had palaces along the Thames. None of these now survive, although remains of a palace used by the Bishop of Winchester can be viewed on Bankside near the Globe Theatre.

Lambeth Palace was now the ultimate seat of power in England, since even monarchs were subject to the pope's authority. But just as faith in the divine status of Roman emperors had eventually weakened, so unquestioning faith in leaders of the Catholic Church also weakened. As early as the 1380s, John Wycliffe had founded the Lollard movement, a precursor of Protestantism, which would sweep across Europe in the sixteenth century. Naturally this threat to Church power was not viewed favourably, especially when Wycliffe looked not to the pope for support, but to powerful secular figures,such as John of Gaunt, and King Richard II. Eventually Wycliffe was put on trial at Lambeth Palace, and the Lollard movement brutally suppressed. Wycliffe died soon after, seemingly of a stroke. His Lollard movement continued after him, but for now it was considered a threat to stability, and successive kings worked hard to eradicate it. One of the towers at Lambeth Palace is ironically now known as the Lollards Tower.

 

 

 

The 1380s were a trial run for the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. This began in Germany early in the sixteenth century, and spread to England during the reign of Henry VIII. Henry VIII was desperate to divorce Katherine of Aragon who had not been able to give him a son. Henry realised that Protestantism freed him from the need to clear his divorce with a reluctant pope. So, starting in 1532, Henry staged the English Reformation changing England's religion to Protestantism. Lambeth Palace was no longer the home of the pope's representative in England. Now it became the home of the head of the Anglican Church, as it has been ever since.

The Church was about power. Christianity stepped into a power vacuum after the fall of the Roman Empire, and gave religious unity where political unity had disappeared. Or you could say that Christianity replaced the cult of Roman emperors, who were considered living gods. This meeting of power and religion is reflected in the design of religious buildings. As with virtually any church Lambeth Palace has all the features of a castle - a gatehouse, towers, battlements. The Church sought a spiritual security in the chaos of post Roman Europe, ruling through the power of symbolism. The design of buildings seeking spiritual security is similar to the design of buildings seeking physical security. Lambeth Palace dates from a time when spiritual castles competed for power with secular ones.

Lambeth Palace is not open to the public. However, it is possible to visit the library, which was created in 1610, and has documents dating back to the ninth century. The library collection is mainly related to church history, but also has a huge amount of material on art, architecture, British history and genealogy. To gain access to the library and view documents you will need a readers card. If you wish to view post 1800 material you will need to take proof of address and two passport sized photos. To view the whole collection, you will also need a letter of introduction from someone who knows you in a formal capacity. The entrance to the library is about one hundred yards along Lambeth Palace Road from the main entrance at the Gatehouse. The door will be closed - ring the bell.

Opening Times: The Library is open Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm. Closed on public holidays, for ten days from Christmas Eve, and ten days from Good Friday.

Lambeth Palace can also be viewed from the Thames Path, on either the north or the south side of the Thames. I took the photos above from the northern Thames path, looking across the river from just outside the Tate Britain art gallery.

Address: Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7JU

Directions: Lambeth Palace is in Lambeth Palace Road, west London. The nearest Underground stations are Westminster, Vauxhall, Waterloo, and Lambeth North. Click here for an interactive map centred on Lambeth Palace.

Contact: the Librarian

telephone: 020 7898 1400

fax: 020 7928 7932

e-mail: lpl.staff@c-of-e.org.uk

web site: http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/intro.html