What did people like about the monastries?

Answer 1

In March 1536 Parliament passed an act that many in the monasteries had feared. The act stated that any monastery with an income of less than £200 a year (as assessed by the Valor Ecclesiasticus) was to be dissolved and their property passed to the Crown. The heads of the houses were to be offered a pension while those who lived in each religious house were given the choice of transferring to a larger one or going to live in society free of any vows of poverty and obedience but still having to respect their vow of chastity. Three hundred religious houses fell within this category of having an income of less than £200 a year. The majority were closed down but at least 67 were given royal permission to remain open as the act gave Henry the right to do this. However, those religious houses that were 'saved' had to pay for their survival. This was usually a year's income. So this would have earned the king about £13,500 -- though it is thought that another 10 religious houses fell into this category but their records have been lost. If this is so, the 77 houses involved would have meant that Henry received about £15,500 from them. What was required to gain the king's exemption? It seems that it was nothing more than having government connections in the right places who could put in the right word to Henry. Those houses that did not have such contacts were effectively doomed. Either way, Henry's income increased quite markedly.

Answer 2

People liked the monasteries because they offered a place of refuge and solitude, allowing individuals to devote themselves fully to religious and spiritual pursuits. Monasteries also provided opportunities for education and intellectual development, fostering the preservation and advancement of knowledge. Additionally, monasteries often served as centers of social and charitable work within communities, providing healthcare, shelter, and support to those in need.