@NoBoDe - I'll watch it tonight - my favourite Irish actor is in it.
Just remembered something else the wealth of the Church allowed: it produced steady employment for the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach and many many more through the ages - most artists, composers, builders and the resultant workers were employed by a wealthy Church and the competing Princes and Princelings, they producing this incredible treasure house of 'European Culture'
Charlemagne was also a big promoter of Christianity, although not a Christian himself. He battled with and converted many Germanic tribes from heathendom to Christianity, he created the 'mass' (named after 'Metz'); he employed scribes and scholars, although he himself could neither read nor write. Tau
I think I'll excuse myself from the rest of the day . . .
