Supreme Governor of the Church of England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Supreme Governor of theChurch of England |
|
|---|---|
| Church of England | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| Residence | Buckingham Palace |
| Constituting instrument | Act of Supremacy 1558 |
| Precursor | Supreme Head of the Church of England |
| Formation | 1558 |
| First holder | Elizabeth I |
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The Supreme Governor of the Church of England is a special title held by the British monarch. It means they are the symbolic leader of the Church of England. Even though the monarch doesn't make daily decisions for the church, this role is still very important.
As Supreme Governor, the monarch officially chooses important church leaders. They do this based on advice from the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Since 1701, all Supreme Governors have been members of the Church of England.
Contents
How the Supreme Governor Role Began
King Henry VIII and the Church
The story of the Supreme Governor began in 1536 with King Henry VIII. He decided to break away from the Pope and the Catholic Church in Rome. Henry VIII then declared the Church of England as the official church of England. He made himself its "supreme head."
A law called the Act of Supremacy 1534 confirmed the king's power over the church. Important people in the country had to promise to accept Henry's new role.
Queen Mary I and Elizabeth I
After Henry VIII, his daughter Mary I became queen. She tried to bring the Church of England back under the Pope's authority. In 1555, she cancelled the Act of Supremacy.
However, when Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, the Parliament brought back the Act of Supremacy. To make sure everyone was happy, Elizabeth's title was changed. Instead of "supreme head," she became "supreme governor." This new title helped avoid the idea that the monarch was claiming to be divine. It also made it clear that Jesus was still seen as the true head of the Church.
Defender of the Faith
Another important title for the British monarch is "Defender of the Faith." Pope Leo X first gave this title to Henry VIII in 1521. This was because Henry had supported the Catholic Church against the Protestant Reformation.
The Pope later took the title away from Henry. But the English Parliament gave it back to the monarch during the reign of Edward VI. This title has been part of the monarch's full title ever since.
What the Thirty-Nine Articles Say
The monarch's role is also mentioned in the Thirty-Nine Articles from 1562. These are a set of beliefs for the Church of England. They explain that the monarch, as "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor," has a duty. This duty is to protect and keep the Church of England united and peaceful.
The Monarch and the Church of Scotland
The British monarch has a different role with the Church of Scotland. This church is Presbyterian, which means it's organized differently from the Church of England. The monarch promises to support the Church of Scotland's rules. However, they are not its leader.
Instead, the monarch appoints a special representative. This person is called the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Their role is mostly ceremonial. For example, Queen Elizabeth II sometimes attended the General Assembly herself. She did this in 1977 and 2002 for her Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Who Has Been Supreme Governor?
English Monarchs
| Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Henry VIII | 1531–1547 | As supreme head. |
| Edward VI | 1547–1553 | As supreme head. He worked with Thomas Cranmer to create the Book of Common Prayer. |
| Mary I and Philip | 1553–1555 | As supreme head for a time. They tried to bring back the Catholic Church in England. |
| Elizabeth I | 1558–1603 | Her reign saw the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, which set up the Church of England as we know it. |
| James I | 1603–1625 | He authorized the famous King James Version of the Bible. |
| Charles I | 1625–1649 | |
| Interregnum | 1649–1660 | A period when England had no monarch. |
| Charles II | 1660–1685 | He became Catholic just before he died. |
| James II | 1685–1688 | The last Catholic monarch to hold this position. |
| Mary II | 1689–1694 | Ruled with her husband, William III. |
| William III | 1689–1702 | He first ruled with Mary II. He was a Calvinist. |
British Monarchs
| Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anne | 1702–1714 | During her time, England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain in 1707. Monarchs now also promise to protect the Church of Scotland. |
| George I | 1714–1727 | He was the first Protestant monarch in the line set by the Succession to the Crown Act 1707. |
| George II | 1727–1760 | |
| George III | 1760–1820 | The United Church of England and Ireland was created in 1800. |
| George IV | 1820–1830 | Laws allowing Catholics more rights were passed during his reign. |
| William IV | 1830–1837 | |
| Victoria | 1837–1901 | The Church of Ireland was no longer the official state church in 1869. |
| Edward VII | 1901–1910 | |
| George V | 1910–1936 | The Church in Wales was no longer the official state church in 1914. |
| Edward VIII | 1936 | He chose to give up his throne. |
| George VI | 1936–1952 | |
| Elizabeth II | 1952–2022 | She was the longest-serving Supreme Governor, for 70 years. |
| Charles III | 2022–present |
See also
In Spanish: Gobernador supremo de la Iglesia de Inglaterra para niños
