Positive:
-showed devotion to St Wulfstan, canonised in 1202.
- John appointed Hubert Walter as chancellor
-Patron of the church: Founded Beaulieu Abbey and made donations to Reading abbey
- Charitable payments to the church (6% of his revenue granted in 1203)

Controversy over Canterbury
- Archbishop Hubert Walter died July 1205
- Canterbury monks elect Reginald, John nominates John de Grey, Bishop of Norwhich. Both went to Rome for consecration
- Pope saw both elections as irregular, denying them both and chose Stephen Langton instead. He was consecrated 1207.

Reconciliation: John made peace with the pope in 1213. Why?
- John needs papal support and needed to avoid deposition by barons due to the threat of invasion from Philip Augustus
- Unrest from his barons
- Wanted to gain support so he could recapture his Angevin lands