Sethina Watson

Dr. Sethina Watson is a Reader in Medieval History at the University of York's Department of History, specializing in the religious and institutional history of the High Middle Ages (1050-1350). Her award-winning research examines the role of the laity in the church, with particular focus on charitable houses, canon law, and diocesan administration. She received the Royal Historical Society's Alexander Prize for her contributions to the field.

Dr. Watson's work investigates how charitable institutions mediated relationships between social classes and shaped medieval communities. Her publications analyze hospitals' legal and constitutional forms, bishops' governance of cathedral cities, and the evolution of canon law regarding religious institutions. Current projects include studies on Archbishop Walter de Gray's register and hospital reform movements preceding the Fourth Lateran Council. She utilizes diverse archival sources including bishops' registers, cartularies, and ecclesiastical documents from the York Minster Library and Borthwick Institute.