Earthquake Synod facts for kids
The Earthquake Synod was an important meeting of church leaders in England. It happened on May 21, 1382, in the Blackfriars area of London.
This meeting got its famous name because a big earthquake, known as the 1382 Dover Straits earthquake, shook London right when the leaders were meeting!
Why the Synod Was Called
The main reason for this special church meeting was to discuss new ideas that were becoming popular. William Courtenay, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury (a very important church leader), called the synod. He wanted to deal with a group of thinkers called the Lollards.
Who Were the Lollards?
The Lollards were people who had different ideas about how the church should work. Their leader was a man named John Wycliffe. Wycliffe believed that some church teachings and practices were wrong.
What Ideas Were Discussed?
The synod specifically looked at twenty-four of John Wycliffe's ideas. Many of these ideas had already been called heresy (beliefs that go against official church teachings) at an earlier meeting in 1377.
The church leaders at the Earthquake Synod decided to officially condemn Wycliffe's ideas. They also talked about other important church topics. These included the teaching of transubstantiation (a belief about the bread and wine used in church services) and the role of friars (religious people who live and work among the public).
