>> Ah, but you ignore the Bible believers, going back to the Apostolic church (Bereans) and the Waldensians. <<
Waldensians, themselves, assert that Peter Waldo was their founder. The Bereans were founded by John Barclay in 1773. There certainly were non-Catholic Christians throughout every age since the time of Christ, but such groups typically agreed with modern Protestants on a single issue or two, and frequently had many beliefs far more alien to Protestants than the one or two issues that they disagreed with the Catholic Church on. For example, the Albigensians believed all procreation was evil, tying people to this world. (The word, “bugger” comes from “Bulgar,” as in “Bulgaria,” given the widespread belief associated with a sect similar to that in Albi, truly endorsed by the Albi’s coreligionists or not, that non-procreative sex was permissable.)
“The Bereans were founded by John Barclay in 1773.”
No, the Bereans I refer to are found in the book of Acts. When the apostles made claims about religion, they “searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so.” Note they did not contact the Holy See.
Throughout Christian history there have been Bible believing Christians who rely upon God’s and not man’s word. There will be until the end of the age.