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Among other vows, nuns were dedicated to lives of poverty - meaning they could have no money or possessions of their own. It was intended that everything needed in a nunnery would be provided by the nun's own work (making things to use, growing things to eat and so on), but the reality was that some things had to be bought.
In order to make money many nuns became proficient at needlework: sewing, embroidery and needlepoint. Their finished products could be sold and the money went into the coffers of the Prioress or Abbess in charge. This money could then be used to buy cloth, sewing thread and anything else that was needed. The money belonged to the community, not to an individual nun, so the vow of poverty was not broken. Nuns also took in laundry, or kept bees and sold the honey and beeswax. Chapter 57 of The Rule of St Benedict allows for craftspeople and artists in monasteries and nunneries to produce items for sale, "but let it always be given a little cheaper than it can be given by seculars".
Nunneries also earned income from land and assets they owned. For example, the prioress of Dartford nunnery owned extensive tracts of land, woodland, grazing marsh, chalk quarries, several mills, tenements and inns in North Kent and throughout the county of Kent. Additional properties, lands and church advowsons (*see note below) were held in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, the City of London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Wiltshire. These lands and properties generated a considerable income.
The nunnery of Nun-Appleton in Yorkshire owned lands and property generating over £30 of income per year in the 13th century - a huge sum at that time.
So although individual nuns were very poor and had no money of their own, the Church as an institution was extremely wealthy and held huge amounts of land and property.
* An advowson was the right to appoint a priest, chaplain, vicar or other clergyman to a position in a rural or urban church or chapel.
What else can I help you with?
What was a peasant pay in the middle ages?
about one shilling
Did peasants in the middle ages have to pay tax?
yes they did
How did people pay for their clothing in the middle ages?
they showed them there tounge
In the middle ages did country people have to pay tax?
Yes, they did
How much money did the peasants have to pay in taxes?
none they rock suck it lords in the middle ages
Why did king john in middle ages make the peasants pay unfair taxes?
Because he wanted to pay for a very expensive war in France which he lost
Did the lady in waiting live in the castles of the middle ages?
stop cheating do they work! did you pay attention in class
Do nuns pay taxes?
No They do not make money and so they do not have to pay taxes. All of there needs are satisfied by the church.
What is the origin of the term severance pay?
Severance pay originated from the middle ages when people convicted of the death penalty would pay their executioner to sharpen their blade so they die with one clean cut
What was life during the Middle Ages?
Life in the middle ages was hard. Many of the peasants or serfs lived in huts. The lords and Ladies usually owned an estate, were many serfs would work. They would pay part of all they grew to the lords and Ladies.
Do nuns have to pay back past financial debts?
when taking a vow of poverty does one still need to pay past debts?
How does Holden treat Th nuns?
He treats them repectfuly and for some reason feels a connection between them. He doesn't want the nuns to pay for their food eaither
