Ruthven was executed and James brought the Church of Scotland under his firm control. The key chapter of his reign involved two women - his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I of England.

Since the Synod of Whitby in 664, the Church of England has been divided into two provinces — Canterbury and York — each with its own archbishop, as well as numerous dioceses each with a bishop.

James's accession meant that the three separate kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland were now united, for the first time, under a single monarch. James was the first Stuart ruler of England ...