Cantebury Cathedral- Anglican Church

During the 1500s, the Catholic Church had a number of critics who wanted to reform some of its practices and curb its great wealth and power. The merchants and wealthy challenged the Church’s view on usury.

The German and English nobility disliked the Italian domination of the Church. Some religious figures objected to the sale of indulgences. Martin Luther was one of the major critics. His 95 Theses detailed problems with the Catholic Church and ended up in sparking the Protestant Reformation.

Other religious figures, such as John Calvin, expanded the ideas of the Protestant Reformation with a focus on predestination and how one’s faith can be revealed by living a righteous life with a strong work ethic.

Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church to secure an annulment from his marriage, rather than any disagreement with Church beliefs. When the Pope would not grant him what he wanted, Henry dismissed the Pope's authority. With the Act of Supremacy, Henry established himself as the head of the church in England. As a side benefit, Henry was also able to appropriate all Catholic Church properties in England. He sold these to other nobles in order to win their support. Although his daughter Mary I tried to revert the country to Catholicism, her rule was brief and her sister who followed, Elizabeth I, established the Church of England as the official religion. She did permit other religions which helped maintain stability.

The Protestant Reformation led to great changes in cultural values, traditions, and philosophies which resulted in the growth of secularism and individualism and the eventual growth of religious tolerance.