From 1653-1658, Oliver Cromwell was "Lord Protector" Britain, which essentially is the British equivelent to the head of state. This was important for religion because Cromwell was a Seperatist, or Dissenter. Seperatists were Protestants who seperated from the Church of England in the 17th and 18th centuries. These individuals heavily criticized the church, wanting no hierachies or state interference within a church setting. Because Cromwell was a dissenter, this sparked a wave of enthusiasm across England and later led to an act passed by the English church, prohibiting anyone who wasn't an Anglican from having political power.