Ben Lacey
Thesis Title: Communities of Religion in the Twelfth Century North of England
Start Year: 2009
Email: b.lacey@sheffield.ac.uk
| Supervisor |
Primary: Dr. Amanda Power | Secondary: Professor Martial Staub
| Research Topic |
My work is on the north of England in the Twelfth Century. I am examining the links that gave people a sense of identification with local communities. Much of this is based on the religious institutions in the area, looking at how they constructed their pasts, imagined their surroundings and thought about ritual and saints' cults in order to create a suitable image of who they were. In doing this, they often incorporated the local laity, which may have led to these institutions underpinning local 'communal' feeling beyond the immediate monastic group. This would have been strengthened through tenurial/patronage networks which included lay and monastic lands. My work aims to do more than just look at the communities that formed; I also hope to examine how these processes affected the relationship between the individual and the collective.
| Academic Background |
- MA in Medieval History (Distinction) from the University of Sheffield
- BA (Hons) in History (First) from the University of Sheffield
| Other Work |
I am on a committee running an interdisciplinary postgraduate discussion group focused on ancient and medieval studies. We also hope to put together a colloquium for the upcoming academic year.
I help with the Medieval and Ancient Research Seminar series run by the University. This organizes public lectures throughout the year.
| Teaching |
I am an associate tutor in the department teaching on the undergraduate module HST114: Pagans, Christians and Heretics in Medieval Europe.