The Protestant Reformation: Timeline

Early Timeline: The Breaks

1517-1521 Martin Luther

A Dominican friar was in Germany raising money for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His “fundraiser” was the offering indulgences in exchange for alms (a bad idea).
Martin Luther, an Augustinian priest and later the author of On the Jews and Their Lies (1543), responded with his 95 Theses. These propositions for debate were only in part related to the actions of the Dominican friar. They challenged the foundational theology of Catholicism.
Refusing to recant his Theses, Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521.
Roman Emperor Charles V called for Luther’s execution, but Germany protected him. The Lutheran Church was born.

Lutheran Theology

Stark contrast to Catholic theological approach of fides et ratio (faith and reason) and logic and understanding as asserted and upheld by such theologians as Anslem, Augustine, and John Paul II.
Lutheran theology asserts sola fide (faith alone) and scripture alone (Sola Scriptura). “Lutherans believe we draw closer to God (i.e. become justified) by grace through faith in Christ and not by our good works.”
Though historically first, Lutheranism is the third largest Protestant movement (Carter).

1527 Henry VIII

In 1517 King Henry VIII of England repudiated Luther’s 95 Theses, defending the Catholic Church. As a result the Pope granted Henry the title Defender of the Faith (Fidei Defe
Barely a decade later, Henry VIII would break decisively with the Catholic Church, accept the role of Supreme Head of the Church of England and dissolve the nation’s monasteries and absorbing and redistributing their massive property as he saw fit.
1527: Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon failed to produce a male heir. Henry asked Pope Clement VII for a divorce and annulment. He had also become infatuated with Anne Boleyn.

The Church of England

With the Pope unwilling to grant an annulment of Henry’s marriage, Henry—believing he should not be subject to papal authority—breaks from the Catholic Church and creates the Church of England, placing himself as its head.

The Anglican/Episcopal Church

The Church of England today is called the Anglican Church. In the United States it is referred to as the Episcopal Church. Its faithful consider themselves a bridge between the Protestant and Catholic branches of Christianity. Catholics and Protestants do not necessarily agree with this.

Later Timeline: The Splinters

The flowchart below illustrates a portion of the reformation as more people and groups broke from the Lutheran Church and the Church of England after those churches broke from the Catholic Church (above).

The Nondenominational Trend

Nondenominational churches are a recent addition to the non-Catholic sects of Christianity. They first began to spring up in the United States in the second half of the 20th century (“Non-Denominational”). Rather than having any affiliation with a Protestant sect like the Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran or other churches, these groups stand completely alone and apart from any organization hierarchy or communal theology beyond their single congregation.

“In essence, the idea of a non-denominational church is a response to so many different responses to churches that came before. Those churches that broke away from the Catholic church were generally in response to something negative [or] something they disagreed with … However, most of these churches remained affiliated with other churches of that same heading as a way to maintain organization and strength in numbers” (Corby).

Works Cited

Boyett, Jason. 12 Major World Religions. Zaphros Press,

Carter, Joe. “9 Things You Should Know About Lutheranism.” The Gospel Coalition, 2017.

Corby, Anna. “How Did Nondenominational Churches Start?” Community of the Crucified One VT, 15 October 2017.

“Non-Denominational Churches Explained.” Grace Church, n.d.