The Protestant Reformation sought to distance itself from the vast hierarchical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, with papal authority at its head. But it did not settle on a single form of church governance. Some Protestant groups, such as the Anglicans, developed their own hierarchical system (episcopal). Others developed an connectedness under councils (presbyterian). Still others, including the Anabaptists and Baptists, emphasised the autonomy of the local congregation (congregational).

The Church