Synod of Cashel facts for kids

The Synod of Cashel in 1172 was a very important meeting for the Church in Ireland. It was also called the Second Synod of Cashel. This meeting happened in Cashel because Henry II of England asked for it. He arrived in Ireland in October 1171.

The main goal of the Synod was to make some rules for the Church in Ireland. It also aimed to fix some problems and help the Irish Church become more like the Roman Rite (the way the Church was run in Rome and England). This meeting was part of a bigger effort to reform the Irish Church in the 1100s. Other important meetings like the Synod of Rathbreasail and the Synod of Kells had already started these changes, moving towards the Gregorian Reforms.

Historians still discuss how much this Synod changed the relationship between the English and Irish Churches. Some, like Stephen J. McCormick, say it was one of the most important events in Irish history at that time.

Interestingly, Irish records from that period don't mention the Synod. So, historians mostly learn about it from other sources. The most important source is a book called Expugnatio Hibernicae (meaning "Conquest of Ireland") written by Giraldus Cambrensis (also known as Gerald of Wales). He wrote down the rules, or "constitutions," that were made at the Synod exactly as they were announced.

Who attended the Synod?

When King Henry II first came to Ireland, he visited several important places. He went to Lismore, where Gilla Críst Ua Connairche (Christianus), a special church leader from the Pope, lived. Henry also visited Cashel and Dublin. This gave him a chance to meet important archbishops like Donnchad Ua hUallacháin from Cashel and Lawrence O'Toole from Dublin.

These meetings helped set up the Synod in Cashel soon after. Gerald of Wales lists many church leaders who attended. These included the three bishops Henry had met, plus Cadla Ua Dubthaig, the Archbishop of Tuam. Many other important church officials like abbots, archdeacons, priors, and deans were also there.

However, Gilla Meic Liac mac Diarmata (Gelasius), who was the Archbishop of Armagh and the most senior church leader in Ireland, did not attend. Some historians believe he refused to come. But Gerald of Wales wrote that he was too old and sick to travel. Gerald also said that Gelasius later went to Dublin to agree with King Henry's decisions.

What rules were made at the Synod?

Gerald of Wales listed seven main rules, or "constitutions," that were decided at the Synod. Here are these rules, explained in simpler terms:

• Rule 1: Marriage Laws
  • People in Ireland should marry according to church law. This means they should not marry close relatives, whether by blood or marriage.

• Rule 2: Baptism
  • Babies should be taught about their faith at the church door. Then, they should be baptized in the special holy water font inside the church.

• Rule 3: Church Taxes (Tithes)
  • Everyone who believes in God must give a tithe (which is one-tenth) of their animals, crops, and other things they produce to their local church.

• Rule 4: Church Property
  • All church lands and property should be completely free from taxes or demands from laypeople (people who are not church officials).
  • This rule was especially important because it meant that local kings, nobles, or powerful people could not demand food, lodging, or entertainment from church lands. They also could not force the church to give them "contributions" four times a year, which used to happen.

• Rule 5: Murder Fines
  • If a murder happened and the laypeople involved paid a fine to the victim's family, church members who were relatives of the murderer should not have to pay part of that fine. Since they didn't commit the murder, they shouldn't have to pay.

• Rule 6: Wills and Inheritance
  • When people are very sick and close to death, they should make a will in front of their confessor (a priest they confess to) and neighbors.
  • If they have a wife and children, after paying any debts or servant wages, their movable belongings should be divided into three parts: one for the children, one for the wife, and one for their funeral costs.
  • If they don't have children, the belongings should be divided into two parts: one for themselves (for funeral costs) and one for their wife.
  • If their wife has already died, the belongings should be divided between themselves (for funeral costs) and their children.

• Rule 7: Funerals and Church Practices
  • People who die having made a good confession should be honored with masses, wakes (gatherings before a funeral), and a proper burial.
  • Also, all church services and religious matters in Ireland should now follow the same practices as the Church in England.

What did the seventh rule mean?

The last part of the seventh rule, which says that Irish church practices should be like those in England, has been a big topic for historians.

Some historians believe this was a direct order from the Synod. They see it as the beginning of a plan by the English kings to make the Irish Church more "English." This is why the Synod of Cashel is often seen as the starting point for how bishops were chosen in Ireland after the Normans arrived. It suggests that the English way of choosing bishops was supposed to be used in Ireland.

However, other historians, like Marie Therese Flanagan, point out that the rule, as written by Gerald of Wales, only talks about liturgical practices (the way church services are performed). She also wonders if this part was even a real decree from the Synod. She suggests it might have been Gerald's own idea of what Irish church leaders would try to do.

Martin Holland, another historian, doesn't even include this part when he lists the Synod's decrees. But he does add that it was decided that "all matters relating to religion" in Ireland should follow English church practices. He notes that some people think this only meant how services were done, while others believe it meant much more, especially since it's claimed that Irish bishops promised loyalty to King Henry around this time.

Related topics

• Synod of Rathbreasail (1111)
• Synod of Kells (1152)
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly