This work investigates the complex political, social, and theological shifts that defined the English Reformation during the sixteenth century. Sir Maurice Powicke, a distinguished medievalist, utilizes his deep expertise in ecclesiastical history to examine the transition from Roman Catholic authority to the establishment of the Church of England. The text provides a framework for understanding how royal supremacy and parliamentary legislation fundamentally altered the religious landscape of the nation.

Historians frequently cite this work as a concise, scholarly introduction to the institutional mechanics of the English Reformation. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a foundational knowledge of Tudor-era political structures.