The medieval church, slavery and untold stories

Associate Professor Lisa Bailey explores how the medieval church in Western Europe filled the power vacuum after the collapse of the Roman Empire while simultaneously becoming the largest slave owner at the time. In conversation with our media adviser Julianne Evans, Lisa shares how these early medieval ideas about slavery and practices of service exist in today's society, and the efforts it took from figures like Saint Balthilde to abolish the Christian slave trade from within the kingdom. Read more: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2026/03/16/queens--slaves-and-servants-in-the-medieval-church.htmlYou could find Lisa's latest book here: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501785757/servants-of-god-slaves-of-the-church/#bookTabs=1