This is the first book to study the religious practices of lay people in the region that once formed the diocese of Salisbury. Andrew Brown explores the relationship between lay piety and geographical location, social condition, and ecclesiastical structures. He tackles a wide range of issues, from the popularity of monastic institutions to the extent of charitable giving, and from the role of guilds to the incidence of heresy.

He concludes with an important reassessment of the reception of the Reformation. The book's broad chronological range and meticulously researched local focus offer illuminating insights into medieval religion.