Acts of Supremacy facts for kids

The Acts of Supremacy were important laws passed in England. These laws said that the English monarch (the king or queen) was the head of the Church in England, not the Pope.

What was the Act of Supremacy?

The Act of Supremacy was a law that changed who was in charge of the Church in England. Before this law, the Pope (the leader of the Catholic Church) was seen as the head of the Christian Church everywhere, including England. The Act of Supremacy moved this power from the Pope to the English ruler.

Henry VIII and the First Act

The first Act of Supremacy was passed in 1534 by Henry VIII. He wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, but the Pope would not allow it. To solve this, Henry VIII decided to break away from the Pope's authority. He declared himself the "Head of the Church in England." This meant he was now the supreme leader of the church in his own country. This event was a big part of the English Reformation, which changed England from a Catholic country to a Protestant one.

Elizabeth I and the Second Act

Later, in 1558, Elizabeth I became queen. She passed her own version of the Act of Supremacy. This new act confirmed that the monarch was still the head of the Church of England. However, Elizabeth changed the title slightly. Instead of "Head of the Church," she chose to be called the "Supreme Governor of the Church in England."

Why did Elizabeth change the title?

There were a few reasons why Elizabeth might have changed her title.

• Some people, especially Catholics, believed that only the Pope could truly be the "Head" of the Church. By using "Supreme Governor," Elizabeth might have hoped to make the law more acceptable to them.
• Also, in the 1500s, some people felt uncomfortable with the idea of a woman being the "Head" of the Church. They thought spiritual matters should be led by men. Changing the title to "Supreme Governor" helped to avoid this issue while still keeping the monarch in charge.

The Oath of Loyalty

Elizabeth's Act of Supremacy also included an important rule for the clergy. The clergy are people who work for the church, like priests and bishops. They had to take an oath, which is a special promise, to be loyal to the Queen. This oath meant they accepted her as the Supreme Governor of the Church. If a member of the clergy refused to take this oath, they would lose their job and position in the church. To make sure everyone followed this rule, a special group called the High Commission was set up.

See also

In Spanish: Acta de Supremacía para niños