Which factor contributed to Archbishop Stigand's unpopularity?

Which factor contributed to Archbishop Stigand's unpopularity?

• A. He was chosen by Earl Godwin and not the king.
• B. He had strong control of churches.
• C. He supported the king's policies wholeheartedly.
• D. He was overly popular with the pope.

Answer: (A)

In this period, who appointed a senior church figure mattered as much as the office itself. If a bishop or archbishop seemed to owe his position to a powerful secular noble rather than to the king (or the pope), it suggested that royal authority could be bypassed and that the church was under the influence of lay power. Stigand being chosen by Earl Godwin, not directly by the king, signals exactly that dynamic—the crown’s authority appeared diminished and the church seemed aligned with a powerful noble. That perception would fuel unpopularity among those who valued royal prerogative and ecclesiastical independence. The other options don’t as clearly capture that political capture of church offices by a noble, which is why this factor stands out as the best explanation.

In this period, who appointed a senior church figure mattered as much as the office itself. If a bishop or archbishop seemed to owe his position to a powerful secular noble rather than to the king (or the pope), it suggested that royal authority could be bypassed and that the church was under the influence of lay power. Stigand being chosen by Earl Godwin, not directly by the king, signals exactly that dynamic—the crown’s authority appeared diminished and the church seemed aligned with a powerful noble. That perception would fuel unpopularity among those who valued royal prerogative and ecclesiastical independence. The other options don’t as clearly capture that political capture of church offices by a noble, which is why this factor stands out as the best explanation.