Archbishop Lanfranc reformed the Church by which measure?

• A. Making priests live spiritual lives.
• B. Eliminating the clergy's role in society.
• C. Building no new churches.
• D. Ending education in parish schools.

Answer: (A)

After the Norman Conquest, Lanfranc set out to tighten and standardize the English church by bringing its practices in line with Roman norms. A core part of his reforms was raising the moral and spiritual standard of the clergy—ensuring priests and bishops lived more devout, virtuous lives and were better educated and disciplined in their duties. This focus on personal reform of clerical life addressed corruption and laxity, strengthening the church’s authority and integrity.

That’s why the statement about making priests live spiritual lives is the best fit. It directly targets the ethical and devotional reform at the heart of Lanfranc’s program. The other ideas don’t match what he emphasized: the reforms did not seek to erase the clergy’s role in society, they did not aim to stop church-building, and they did not reduce education—in fact, they promoted better clerical education and instruction.