The Reformations entry in Denmark brought with it, in 1536, the creation of the state church with the monarch as the head of the church.

The Danish kings, especially Christian III, allowed for Protestantism to spread in Denmark and Norway in the 16th century. Denmark and Norway both welcomed the Protestantism, specifically the evangelic Lutheran Christianity, which became the official state religion with the Danish king as head of the church.

When absolutism was abolished and the Constitution of Denmark was introduced, the state church changed its name to The Church of Denmark. The Church of Denmark was supported economically by the Danish state and the Danes were personally able to choose if they wished to be members of the Church of Denmark or not. With the entry of the Danish Constitution, the royal power was no longer head of the church. The church ministry and the Danish parliament make out the church’s top authorities.

The Danish state collects church taxes of c. 1% of the individual citizen’s tax-entitled income. The church tax can vary from municipality. In addition, the Church of Denmark receives supplement from the Danish state.

Through the last couple of decades, the Church of Denmark has experienced a fall in the number of memberships. Today, the Danes primarily uses the Church of Denmark for baptism, confirmation, weddings and funerals - as well as Christmas.