Francois de Laval
- the people in New France were Roman Catholic and attended church regularly, they looked to the church for guidance
- Francois de Laval was the first Bishop of New France
- he was appointed in 1674 and was a member of the Sovereign council and part of the "big three" of the government
- he organized New France into religious districts called parishes
- he appointed priests to conduct religious ceremonies, including weddings & burials
- he established a school to train priests so they would not need to be imported from France
- encouraged the founding for primary schools for girls & boys and carvers, painters and other artisans (whose work decorated the interiors of the churches)
- supported advanced education at the Jesuit college
- strongly encouraged family life
- insisted on proper behaviour - frowned on drunkenness, dancing & pretty clothes
- strongly opposed the brandy trade with the Aboriginals
- demanded that the church be allowed to collect a tax called "tithe" from all the people in order to build & maintain churches & support priests
- he was also very confrontational and quarreled with governors however, under his command the church of New France grew and flourished!