Those who Pray

Two significant and separate Christian churches exist in Britain, alongside a fading Paganism. The two Christian churches worship Jesus Christ and have some other beliefs in common. However, they differ in the way they dress, worship, share sacraments, and interact with secular authorities.
The Roman Church is a hierarchical, interkingdom organization with its head in Rome, who is called the Pope. At the start of the game the primacy of the Pope is only about 150 years old and established in the Roman Bible. It is modelled on the medieval Roman Church in its appearance and rites. It stands wholly apart from the secular leadership hierarchy.
The British Church is modelled on the historical Pelagian church. It is non-hierarchical, based on abbeys with daughter houses, and its leaders obey secular rulers who generally have kept the right to appoint abbots. In belief, it conforms to their own Testament of Joseph (of Arimathea), which discards the Old Testament god in favor of his loving Son’s wisdom, power, and divinity.
Some other obscure Christian sects are found only in Londinium, where establishments cater primarily to the merchants and other foreigners who visit there. These include the Church of Saint Arius, for the Germans of Arian faith, and the Church of Donatus Magnus, for the North African Donatist Church.
The Pagans are not organized. Some organizations do exist, such as the Ladies of the Lake; and many of the holy places are organizations unto themselves, for all practical purposes.

Canons and Monks

Christian clergy are divided into two types, canons and monks.
Canons are priests, those who are training to be priests, and the higher ranks who are also priests (bishops, archbishops). They have all taken the sacrament of Holy Orders in order to lead worship services and perform the clerical duties of the Roman Church hierarchy. Every Roman church that offers the sacraments in church service have at least one priest presiding. All canons are trained the same, and so they are all of a single type, although the recently formed Black Canons differ slightly, as explained below. They are all trained in ministry, and go through a series of steps leading up to their ordination. However, their training is not equal. Commonly priests from the common class are destined for the smaller the churches, and receive less training. Thus the hundreds of village churches tend to have priests with minimal training in theology and doctrine.
Canons outnumber monks significantly, however they rarely go far from their churches and so the monks seem to be more numerous largely because they are more visible.
Monks are religious men. Monks live apart from everyday society to work and/or live with a deliberate spirituality shunning the profane world. They live collectively in monasteries, which are also called abbeys. Most monks are not priests, and thus do not perform tasks that Roman canons do. Since the British Church does not have canons, their monks perform those priestly duties.
Monks are not all the same. They are divided into different organizations, called orders, whose objectives and ways of life differ from each other. Two monastic orders dominate the abbeys of Britain: the Russet Monks and the Black Monks. Several lesser orders are also found, and more will appear over time.
Monks are trained and progress through several steps. Many go through the process but do not undertake the final ordination that pledges them to their religious vows and a full-time commitment to their order. Many monks do not take this final step, but still learn what the order teaches and are part of the order. They often find a way outside of the monasteries, especially as clerks for the many secular lords who need them.
Women who choose to follow the spiritual way are called nuns. They live in nunneries, separated from the monks and the mundane world, but the nunneries are always attached to an abbey, and the leading abbess still reports to the abbot.
The most obvious difference between the British and Roman orders is their haircuts. The Roman monks shave the entire top of the head, leaving a fringe of hair around the edge. The British monks shave the side of their head, and leave a triangle on the top with the single point facing forward, making it look like a single lock of hair over their foreheads.

The British Christian Church

Christianity first reached Britain with the arrival of Jesus during the “missing years” of his life as shown in the Roman gospels. He came with Joseph of Arimathea, a tin merchant, who later gave his tomb for Jesus to be buried in. After the crucifixion Joseph was imprisoned for several years and was given neither food nor water. When his captors later opened his cell, expecting to find a desiccated corpse, they were greeted instead by a hale and hearty Joseph. He was kept alive by the Holy Grail, which appeared to him each day and provided food and drink. The Roman authorities, awed and fearful of this miraculous man, let him free.
Joseph gathered his family and followers and departed from the Holy Land, led by the Grail to found a new home in distant Britain where he already knew people who had traded him tin for the exotic goods of the near east since the island was not conquered by Rome yet. He was granted the lands of Glastonbury under extraordinary conditions, thanks to the piety of the king in Summerland.
He established the first monastery, called Glastonbury. He began preaching to the locals, many of whom converted to the new faith. After many years he handed the Holy Grail over to a lineage of his descendants who became the Keepers of the Holy Grail. Others from his monastery began going about the country to preach and establish new abbeys. At Roman Sorviodunum his son established the first new abbey after Glastonbury, called the Abbey on the Rock, which name also identifies the site. It is known that many druids converted to Christianity and kept many of their old ways.
Joseph’s testament set the monastic standards and tone of the new religion in Britain. Most British abbeys follow his code and wear simple red-brown habits, and so are called Russet Monks. British Christianity differs from Roman Christianity in several important respects. The British Church:

• Reveres the sacred cup of resurrection as being of greater importance than the cross of death;
• Is largely subservient to secular patrons who first financed the abbey foundations, a type of holding called a benefice;
• Has no priests, but instead has Teachers, sometimes also called Shepherds;
• Has no bishops, but some abbots have the power to authenticate new Teachers (since the coming of the Roman Church, they are called abbot-bishops
• Holds worship services in a circle centered around a table where Teachers sit, rather than at an altar, worshippers praying by looking upward with open arms;
• Allows women teachers and abbesses who are fully equal to the males;
• Is more closely associated with the commoners in the countryside, rather than with a Roman city.

Note that many abbot-bishops contribute troops to their patrons, but are not barons since they are not held from the king.

British Monastic Orders

Russet Monks

No single organization oversees the Russet Monks. Each abbey is independent of the others, and some tend to the poor while others tend to the nobles. Some abbeys are even small forts which provide refuge to their followers. Every abbey is headed by an abbot, who also has a power similar to Roman bishops to ordain their leaders, called “teachers,” who lead the rituals. Abbots are appointed by a local nobleman whose ancestor started the abbey.

Anchorites

An anchorite is a man or woman in a cell who does not ever move from where he or she sits to pray. Food and water are brought to the holy person there. They are more common outside of Logres, and usually not in a monastic setting. Some live in communities, gathering only for food and common prayer, but spending most of their time alone. Others are hermits living alone in the wilderness.

Black Monks

Both churches have monasteries of Black Monks. Members are generally drawn from the noble class, are well educated, and are often found as advisors to the nobles. They tend to be more worldly than the russet monks.
The Black Monks first came to Britain as a Roman order. Many abbeys in Britain adapted the Black Monks’ Monastic Rule to their own use, including wearing black habits, but not their haircut. British Black Monks began because participants were attracted to their particular rules and intentions. The order had begun with strict regulations and rules, but over time these have become so relaxed that many individuals accept the training and offices of the church but are actually more loyal to their family or noble employer.
Black Monks of both religious traditions live in respectful harmony with each other, although in separate monasteries. While they may hold the usual political grudges, they have no spiritual strife. The Black Monks have been around long enough to have acquired lands and wealth, which separates them from their more humble brethren.

Indigo Monks

The Indigo Monks are drawn from nobles and common classes alike, and are known for their education in matters of earth and sky, of human and animal-kind, and philosophy and politics. They are rare, most often found advising noblemen of the western lands— Cambria, Cumbria and Caledonia.

British Abbeys of Note

The British church has had a history of holy men with secular responsibilities, or of secular leaders who adopted church titles and roles. The Russet Monks were widely established before the Roman Church ever came, especially in the western parts of Britain.
Because the church considers the place to be more important than its leader, the names of the important abbots are given after the title. Some titles given here appear as “abbot(-bishop).” The leader’s title is “abbot,” and the -bishop part indicates that they also have the power to make new priests, while most of the abbots do not.
This list places the abbey first and the abbot second in the headers. This is because the institution is more important than the man. Some of the abbeys are relatively unimportant and their abbots are not named.

Ambrius Abbey

Abbot-Bishop Dilwyn

Ambrius Abbey was established by King Aurelius Ambrosius, granting to it extensive lands and rights. It is sometimes called Ambrosius Abbey. It is peopled primarily with noble men and women who have taken vows. It is a double abbey, with both Black Monks and Nuns in residence.

Glastonbury Abbey

Abbot-Bishop Gwion

Glastonbury was established by Joseph of Arimathea, and has undergone changes from being a site for hermits to being the greatest abbey in Britain. Alone among the British church establishments, this one is self governing, owing no debt to any patron. Glastonbury appoints its own abbot and enjoys rare liberties thanks to its ancient sacred status. It has acquired many properties from lords since its founding.

St Albans Abbey

Abbot-Bishop Cynfarch

The grave of St Albans is here. He is the first Christian martyr and saint of Britain. The first abbey here was built by the King of the Catuvellauni. It has gained near-regal powers over many of its lands. It is a center of British Church strength in the east. Although it is primarily British, it also has a “shrine,” which is the size of a church, to the “Saints of Rome.” Within that are the many precious relics brought by Saint Germanus when he tried to convert the monks to Roman Christianity.

Linden Pool Abbey

Abbot-Bishop Lampades

The abbey is responsible for providing ten archers to defend the settlement and castle.

Axe

Abbot Corentyn

This is located very close to the estate of Axe.

Bard’s

Abbot Ermid

This is an old abbey that has experienced a recent surge of growth. When the Bishop of Lindsey paid homage to the Archbishop of Eburacum, many monks resisted the change. Those who did left Linden Pool and rallied around this abbey.

Crow Land

Abbot Vychan

The abbey consists of anchorites scattered on dry spots of land in the marsh.

Eels

Abbot Pendaran

This abbey is on a large island amid the Fens.

Exe River

Abbot Daveth

This abbey has its abbot chosen by its patron the King of Cornwall, the heir to the rights established by the ancient King of the Dumnonii. King Uther regularly accuses the abbot of treason due to his appointment by the foreign Cornwall and disseizes his lands for security purposes. So far, £10 have been taken this way. None have ever been returned, and the former cathedral and minister buildings have been rented to cattle salesmen for the last two decades. The abbot is an expert at practicing humility, patience, and resignation.

Kingstown

Abbot Kilydd

This abbey is responsible for maintaining five archers to garrison the Count’s nearby castle.

The Rock

Abbot Rhain

This is the second Christian abbey in Britain, founded by the son of Joseph of Arimathea when he left Glastonbury to preach.

St Mary’s

Abbot Vitrasius

This abbey is located in Londinium.

St Ninnians

Abbot Arvel

Saint Ninnian is a very early saint who converted the Christina Picts to the religion. This abbey is inside the walls of the Market Town of Leir.

Thorntree Island

Abbot Cian

The patron of this abbey, the baron of Grantrabridge, is Ulfius the Duke. The abbey must provide five archers for the castle garrison.

Thorns

Abbot Rafael

This British abbey has recently grown powerful due to the abuses of power in the local Roman dioceses. The abbot has been seizing Roman lands for his own abbey. Dangerous quarrels between their respective followers regularly escalate into brawls and bloodshed. Most of its holdings are outside of its home territory. Its patron is Sir Galehaut, the Baron of the Castle Behind the Waters.

Wells

Abbot Cameron

Half of this abbey’s lands are outside of its hundred, but still within Summerland.

White City

Abbot Marius

This is the largest body of Indigo Monks. They train in the sciences and political diplomacy. Many nobles of the British faith have such advisors, so their number is greater than their income indicates.

The Roman Church

The Roman Church first came to Britain when King Lucius invited missionaries to come to Londinium and teach around 150 AD. The priests Faganus and Dyvanus established a church in Londinium, which still stands, and began their teaching. They first confined their preaching primarily in the cities, and many parts of rural Logres have churches with semi-educated priests who allow semi-pagan practices to continue.
Almost 200 years ago, in 306 AD, the greatest Roman Emperor departed from Britain and conquered the corrupt Roman Empire. He was Constantine of Britain, the only Roman Emperor ever titled the Great, who later was made into a saint. He converted his empire to Christianity and gave over much of its administration to the Church. Since that time, their bishops have held political power (especially in the cities) even though the empire has fallen.
The Roman Church holds its own property. They have a separate judicial system called Canon Law, which oversees legal issues within its membership. They hold property that is often in Free Alms, which means they are not responsible to any secular lord for it. They also hold property by the normal Grant of Fief, like lords and knights, and those who do must supply troops for those holdings.

Dubricus, Archbishop of Britain

All the bishops in Britain are under the leadership of Archbishop Dubricus. His own see is outside Logres, in Carlion-on-Usk, but he is as British as a man can be. He oversees ten bishops, each in his own city, who in their turn oversee the priests within their regions. He often travels throughout the realm to check on his flock.

Roman Bishops

Logres has seven bishops, and three more are outside of the kingdom. Bishops take their titles from the cities in which they rule, hence Bishop of Londinium and so on. The bishops are placed in office by acclamation of the priests of a cathedral, or by a secular lord who has kept the right to appoint the head of an institution he founded (This is called advowson). Either way, the Pope in Rome must affirm the promotion, granting a pallium, which is a special piece of ecclesiastical clothing. Bishops are not necessarily from the area where they work, perhaps coming from as far away as Italy or Africa!
Sometimes regional politics or sufficient bribes convince the Pope to put a specific person in place, as with Huntland.
Each bishop oversees their own parish and heads an organization of priests. The territory that a bishop controls is his bishopric, or diocese. The city of his residence is called a see, or a cathedral city. Each see has a great church called a cathedral, a ministry for teaching, a hospital, an almshouse, possibly a nunnery for holy women, and similar lesser institutions.
Grants of land, either Free Alms or by fief, are given to the Roman Church from lords and ladies who wish to honor them, to establish memory of some deed, to pray for post mortem life everlasting, or buy their good favor. Whereas the original grants to support the churches and bishops are in the territory they lie in, other lands are often added from other more far-flung areas. Thus like lords, the lands of a bishopric are scattered throughout the counties.
Most of the clerical leaders are obedient, humble, and ordinary. Those few who are not are singled out below with some comments. Several hold enough land from the king to be barons, and since they usually hold that secular title in higher esteem than their ecclesiastical one, they are labelled as such in the list below.
This list places the bishopric first and the bishop second in the headers. This is because the institution is more important than the individual. The individuals are generally addressed as “Bishop" or "My Lord.”

Bishopric of Camulodunum

Baron Dyfan

Diocese: Caercolun Dyfan is from Gaul. His see is Saint Julian’s Cathedral, one of the most beautiful in all Logres. He is a stern and severe overseer, hard on his priests and demoting those who displease him to meaningless village churches. He has recently converted his see to be Black Canons, the monk-like order of canons

Bishopric of Corinium

Baron Decius

Diocese: Clarence, Glevum, Wuerensis, Tribruit, and Summerland Decius is originally from north Africa. He is dedicated to the church and fights fiercely for every scrap of its rights and properties relentlessly. He keeps two concubines, one in Glevum and one in Corinium; and allows his priests to be married if they wish.

Bishopric of Durnovaria

Baron Mesalla

Diocese: Dorsette, Jagent, Ascalon, Tintagel, Totnes, and Lyonesse Mesalla is a native Cymru from one of the powerful families of Durnovaria. Though theoretically forbidden, the see has been held by members of this family for more than a hundred years. He keeps tight control over the priests of Dorsette, but is less able to enforce this on the counties outside of his diocese. He dislikes Picts and often abuses his flock in Jagent whose lords are of Pict descent.

Bishopric of Huntsman

Baron Gaius

Diocese: Huntland, Lonazep, Lambor, Linden This bishop is a famous debauch, and the see has been his family sinecure since before Vortigern. He has never visited his cathedral or city and lives in luxury in Londinium. His Archdeacon attends for all his baronial responsibilities. Many priests have abandoned him, following their people to join the British Church, making the abbot of Thorns Abbey rich and politically powerful.

Bishopric of Londinium

Baron Quintus

Diocese: Thamesmouth, Hartland, Berroc Quintus is from Londinium. He loathes the British Church and everyone in it. Londinium is surrounded by an all-Roman population and like everything else in Londinium, the bishopric is held by one of the old Roman senatorial families. The city is so big that there are churches of other denominations within it much to the bishop's chagrin.

Bishopric of Noviomagus

Bishop Varro

Diocese: Hantonne, Cantium, Regnentium Most of Varro’s territory has been lost to the Saxons, though he still claims it.

Bishopric of Silchester

Baron Metellus

Diocese: Silchester, Salisbury, Gentian, and Rydychan Metellus is from southern Gaul, called Occitania. He is righteous and just, but very severe on his people because of the presence of British and Pagan alternatives in his diocese.

Bishopric of Venta

Baron Andronicus

Diocese: Caerwent Andronicus “the Bishop of the Mace” is originally from Cappadocia. A previous Pope sent him to Britain as a punishment, thinking the remoteness would be enough to calm him down, but he has not repented of his ways. He loves to lead his troops in battle, and often squeezes his own peasants to pay for extra troops when the occasion of war arises.

Archbishopric of Carlion-on-Usk

Dubricus

Located in Escavalon, this is the see for the Archbishop, who is the head of the Roman bishops in Britain. Archbishop Dubricus is sometimes to be found here, but is often on his own progress visiting his bishops and other church lands.

Bishopric of Fort Gwent

Gwengad

Dioceses: Southern and central Cambria This see is in Escavalon. Gwengad is a kindly leader, encouraging more than punishing, believing that kindness will bring more to his flock that harshness. His diocese is relatively poor due to its impossible task of converting the savage hill people to the Church of Rome.

Bishopric of the City of Legions, Deesmouth

Bishop Julius

Dioceses: Deesmouth, Lancacounty, Pase, Amans, Cameliard, Galvoie, and Orofoise Julius is from Italia. He is a relatively impoverished bishop, with a diocese that has turned largely to British and Pagan ways.

Roman Clerical Orders

Monastic Roman orders developed from anchorites in the eastern desert areas who set up rules for their followers. These are based on desert conditions and are often inappropriate to the temperate ways of Britain. These hardships have caused the first monastic orders to alter their strict adherence to them and led to lax ways for some.

Black Monks

The Black Monks began in the Mediterranean, and men inspired by them have joined into abbeys all over the former Roman Empire. Members are drawn from the noble class, are well educated, and they are often found as advisors to the nobles.
Black Monks of both religious traditions live in respectful harmony with each other, although in separate monasteries. While they may hold the usual political grudges, they have no spiritual strife. The Black Monks have been around long enough to have acquired lands and wealth, which separates them from their more humble brethren.

White Monks

White Monks are found only in the Roman Church. It is a relatively new order and was founded by men who thought the black monks had become too worldly. They avoid noble offices and loyalties; instead they favor working with their hands, often seeking and obtaining land in waste places of no value to commoners. This provides them with isolation and a measure of security.

Regular Canons

These are the priests of the Roman Church. Every cathedral has a school to train them, called a minster, and most Roman church positions are filled by them. They are called “regular canons.”

Black Canons

King Uther dislikes churchmen so much that he issued an order that no new monasteries may be founded in his kingdom. In response to this prohibition, this order was established which follows monk-like rules even though they are not monastic, but canonical.

Curtal Monks

Curtal means “short,” and they got their name from their founder who once tore his rich cloak in half to help a poor man. Their tradition continues this emphasis of assisting the needs of the many poor, providing food, shelter, clothing, and hospital care. Monasteries are found only in Londinium, Glevum, and Silchester.