story identification - Trilogy of books set in the future with "knights", "priests", and dwarfs and a rebellion

In the 80s, I was introduced to a sci-fi/fantasy trilogy of books. The books were set in the future. There were "knights", "priests", and dwarfs. The dwarfs were help for the knights. As the books evolved, the churches that the commoners were "controlled" by and went to used technology claimed by the priests to be divine power, but it was revealed as the books developed that the making of sounds and visuals in church was technology of the past that was hidden from the commoners but used to convince them that the "priests" had powers. What the priests were using was tape players and projectors. I kind of remember the main character was a young man who became a knight, but rebelled against the control of the workers/commoners by the religion's "priests".

I read these books in the early to mid 80s. If anyone has a memory or any thought to what these 3 books are, let me know.

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