An established church is a religious institution that is officially recognized and supported by the government as the country's official religion. An established church is often granted legal and financial privileges and has a close relationship with the government, with its leaders sometimes having significant political influence.
In some countries, the established church may have legal authority over certain aspects of public life, such as education, marriage, and burial. In others, the church may play a ceremonial or symbolic role, such as in the United Kingdom, where the Church of England is the established church, but its role is primarily symbolic and ceremonial.
The concept of an established church dates back to the Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church was the dominant religious institution in Europe and played a significant role in the political and social structures of the time. Today, some countries still have established churches, while others have moved towards a more secular form of government, where religion and government are separate entities.