Church in the Middle Ages: from dedication to dissent Article by: Alixe Bovey The Church was a powerful force in medieval England. Here Dr Alixe Bovey examines how the Church was organised, why people went on pilgrimages, and what happened to dissenters The Church was the single most dominant institution in medieval life, its influence pervading almost every aspect of people's lives. Its religious observances shape to the cale its sacramental rituals gave baptism, confirmation, marriage, the marked important moments in an individ life (including eucharist, penance, h orders and the last rites); and its teachings underpinned mainstream beliefs about ethics, the meaning of life and the afterlife.