Barking dogs and rowdy children terrorise a medieval church

When we walk into a church today, it tends to be quiet and solemn (and often also empty), but what was a medieval church like? Apparently quite lively. In many contemporary accounts, we often find complaints about rowdy churchgoers, some of whom were of a canine persuasion (in fact, dogs being disruptive in churches was a common complaint in the Middle Ages). Let's look at an account from Pistoia.

In a provvisione (which was a decision approved by the high legislative council of the commune) from 28 September 1339, we find a petition submitted on behalf of the Masters of Works (operarii) of the local Cathedral of San Zeno, which paints a rather dynamic picture.

…[The petitioners] respectfully explain that lately in this church, which is – and must be – a house of prayer, especially when mass is celebrated, dogs enter and bark, and prostitutes as well as other dishonest women and wicked men hold meetings and illicit councils in that place, and play all sorts of games, boys shout, and they fight. Because of these and other things which happen in that place services are interrupted and ultimately the church itself is violated.

The petitioners therefore asked the commune to appoint a custodian who would:

…Clean that church and have it cleaned of all filth and prevent dogs from entering and remove those who have entered; [regarding] boys and anyone else who shouts or plays games, and prostitutes and other dishonest women and wicked men and those who hold such meetings and illicit councils in the church or near it, he must make them leave and move them on…

The petition was then endorsed by one of the councillors named Mannino and after two divisions were made (one for the petition itself and one for the petition as endorsed by Mannino) it was approved by 104 voters in favour and seven against, and then again by 103 against eight.

Transcription:

… exponitur reverenter quod modo ipsa ecclesia, que est et esse debeat domum orationis, ut plurimum et maxime cum divina celebratur officia, intrant et latrant canes, ibique tam meretricum quam aliarum inhonestarum mulierum et malorum hominum fiunt colloquia et consilia illicita, ludunt diversimodo pueri clamant, rissas faciunt, propter que et alia que illicite in ea fiunt, ipsa impediuntur officia et aliquando ipsa ecclesia violatur […] eamdem ecclesiam mundet et mundari faciat omni sorde ne intrent canes in ea resistat et intrantes expellat, pueros et quoscumque alios clamantes vel ludentes et meretrices et alias inhonestas mulieres et malos homines talia colloquia et consilia illicita facientes in ea vel iuxta eam exire et admoveri faciat…

Archivio di Stato di Pistoia, Consigli, Provvisioni e riforme, VI, f. 47v.