The period known as “The Reformation”, which began in the early 1500s, saw a movement within Christianity which emphasised salvation by grace through faith and the pre-eminence of the Bible in matters relating to doctrine and practice.[1] Below, we briefly analyse some of the main events of this momentous era, summarising developments in mainland Europe before considering the origins of the Church of England.
Whilst the Reformation is forever identified with Martin Luther’s action of nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle Church, Germany, it is important to remember that this single momentous event did not take place within a vacuum. Many within the church were already aware of the need for reform. For a long time, scholarship had been advancing and many of the changes within academia laid the groundwork for Luther’s ideas. Of the scholars who preceded Luther, perhaps the most well-known is a man called Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. Erasmus is remembered for his translation of the Greek New Testament and as one of several influential academics who began to prioritise God’s revelation in the Scriptures over human philosophy.
It was against this backdrop of scholarly reform, and a return to the Bible, that Luther began studying the Scriptures for himself. Amongst his many new-found beliefs, the conviction that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17) is the one for which he is best remembered. Luther’s understanding of this key verse of Scripture led to the doctrine that justification[2] comes through faith in Christ alone. Whilst Luther did not initially wish to leave the Roman Catholic Church, the hierarchy in Rome proved so resistant to change that a schism within the church became inevitable. This led to many people seceding from Catholicism and ultimately resulted in the numerous Protestant denominations that we see today. Among the most prominent groups to emerge during the Reformation were the Lutherans, the Calvinists, and the Anabaptists.
In England, many people were encountering Jesus Christ in a personal way and supporting the Reformation. However, it would be the actions of King Henry VIII, who reigned from 1509 to 1547 and remained sympathetic to the teachings of the Catholic Church all his life – that resulted in the formation of the Church of England.
Henry’s greatest desire was to have a male heir. His marriage to Catherine of Aragon had produced only a daughter, and He therefore wanted the pope to grant him an annulment. Rome’s refusal to countenance such a request led to England’s break from the Roman Catholic Church and ultimately to the formation of the Church of England with Henry as the new Church’s head. The Anglican Church was to be organised similarly to its Catholic counterpart, with bishops and priests holding authority under the king – what is known as an episcopalian form of church government. Following the death of Henry VIII in 1547, Thomas Cranmer, in conjunction with Henry’s successor Edward VI, introduced the Book of Common Prayer to provide the church with a standard liturgy to be used in its worship services.
From its inception, the Church of England has contained a wide spectrum of theological views. Many who had formerly served as Catholic priests continued to lead their churches in much the same way they had always done. However, many others sought to pursue a more biblical form of Christianity and fully embraced a return to a gospel which simply taught the need for faith in Jesus Christ.
Over the centuries, the Church has produced some notable preachers, including the Victorian bishop J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), and John Stott (1921-2011), whose Bible commentaries and other writings continue to be of great blessing to many believers. Furthermore, the Alpha Course, originating at Holy Trinity Brompton, has been used by evangelicals across many denominations as a tool for proclaiming the gospel.
Today, the Church of England remains the largest Christian denomination in the UK. Worldwide, there are an estimated one hundred million Anglicans[3], although some Anglican churches in Africa no longer recognise the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Indeed, the church has experienced significant disunity in recent decades over issues such as the ordination of women and same-sex relationships. Liberal scholarship within Anglicanism has contributed to undermining confidence in the authority of Scripture among the communion, with some even casting doubt upon such fundamental truths as the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, many local Anglican churches continue to preach the gospel faithfully with members living out their faith in a vibrant and powerful way.
[1] There are three so-called “solas” of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); Sola Fide (Faith alone) and Sola Gratia (Grace alone).
[2] Justification is a legal term. In the New Testament it carries the idea of a person being fully acquitted before God, solely on the basis of faith in Christ.
[3] https://anglican.ink > 2025/07/27
