The Pope refused to give Henry VIII a divorce from Catherine of
Aragon, so he set up his own church, the Church of England. He
dissolved over 800 monasteries across England, all of which were
wealthy and loyal to the Pope. In doing this he reduced the
power of the Church across England, and he gained a lot of money
as he reclaimed the land and possessions of the monasteries.
Winding path to the ruins of Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales,
Yorkshire , England Aulne Abbey, Belgium (637, burned 18th c.)
(Source: Flickr / ok2piter) Whitby Abbey was disestablished
during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 under Henry
VIII’s orders Whitby Abbey, England (Established 657AD,
disestablished 1538) Old Haunted Grounds. Whitby Abbey, April
2012, a very cold day