When Charles became king in 1625, at the death of his father, James I, he found a considerable party among the clergy disposed to abandon the Calvinistic views which had been predominant in the previous century, and to welcome a theological position much nearer to traditional Catholicism.

He chose William Laud, leader of the High Church party, to be Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633.

Charles' wife, Henrietta Marie, daughter of Henry IV of France, was a Roman Catholic. This put Charles in a difficult position. He tried to compromise, giving Roman Catholics some toleration while trying to appeal to the mass of his subjects, who were anti-papist.

His coronation was carried out with the fullest Anglican ceremonial, and he allowed Laud to enforce High Church usage in ceremonial.

His refusal to abandon the episcopacy, among other political decisions, led to the Civil War of 1642, and his defeat in 1645-6 led to the disestablishment of the Church of England and the establishment of Presbyterianism in its place.

Charles' execution in 1649 is considered by some a martyrdom, since it was conditioned only by his resolution to defend the Church.