The Crown’s nationalization of a church led to profound economic and cultural changes, the most immediate of which was the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1540), which closed nearly 900 religious houses representing 10% of the kingdom’s wealth. Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1540), which closed nearly 900 religious houses. This was one of the largest transfers of land and wealth in English history (roughly 10% of the kingdom’s wealth).

Their closure displaced thousands of monks, nuns, and lay workers, removed local safety nets, led to increased vagrancy and social instability and laid the groundwork for the welfare state.