Bishop Bling

In the 9th and 10th centuries, lay investiture was a great debate in the Medieval world.  The power to chose a new bishop had been under the authority of the Emperor, a layperson not of the Church.  The work of Gregorian Reform, which began with Pope Leo IX and grew to a climax under the pontificate of Pope Gregory VII, worked to end lay control over Church appointments by attacking simony, eliminating clerical marriage, and asserting the Pope's authority over all of Western Europe.

One of the traditions that the papacy attacked through Church reform was the symbolic gifts of the ring and staff given to new appointees by the laypeople.  These represented a marriage to the Church by the ring and the duty of a good shepherd by the staff (also known as a crozier).  This signified a layperson's "investment" into a bishop's office (Bennett, 172).  Under the Concordat of Worms (c. 1122), the bestowing of the ring and staff no longer was a layperson's privilege, since only the pope was allowed to bestow spiritual authority.  The emperor did however retain the power to give territorial and administrative authority to a new bishop, but lay investiture was for the most part over (Bennett, 174). 



13th Century bishop's ring on display at the Walter's Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
http://art.thewalters.org/detail/22345/bishops-ring/

 



13th Century croziers of French origin.  On display at the Walter's Art Museum, Baltimore.
http://art.thewalters.org/detail/37370/choirmasters-crozier-with-saints-valerie-martial-and-michael/
http://art.thewalters.org/detail/13306/crozier-with-the-annunciation-2/
 

Even in today's modern world, the bishop's traditional outfit can still be seen accompanied with a staff and ring.  The curved top is a further depiction of the "shepherd's hook" and the duty all bishop's have to faithfully lead their flock. (http://www.diocesepb.org/symbols-of-a-bishop).





Current Bishop of London.