Latin literacy in medieval England

Latin literacy in medieval England was the ability to read and write Latin, primarily used for religious, scholarly, and administrative purposes. It was limited mainly to clergy, monks, and some educated elites, as Latin was the language of the Church, legal documents, and scholarly texts. Most ordinary people spoke and understood Old or Middle English, but Latin was essential for religious services, learning, and official records. Mastery of Latin involved studying texts and learning complex grammar, making literacy a specialized skill that signified education and social status during the medieval period.