Supreme Governor of the Church of England facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Supreme Governor of the Church of England
Incumbent Charles III since 8 September 2022
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

The Supreme Governor of the Church of England is a special title held by the British monarch. It means the King or Queen is the official, but mostly 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.

How the Supreme Governor Role Began

King Henry VIII and the Church

The story of the Supreme Governor began in the 1530s with King Henry VIII. He wanted to divorce his wife, but the Pope wouldn't allow it. So, Henry VIII decided to break away from the Catholic Church in Rome.

In 1534, a law called the Act of Supremacy was passed. This law said that the King, not the Pope, was the "supreme head" of the Church of England. Everyone important in the country had to swear an oath agreeing to this.

Queen Mary I and Elizabeth I

When Henry VIII's daughter, Mary I, became Queen, she tried to bring England back under the Pope's authority. She cancelled the Act of Supremacy in 1555.

However, when Elizabeth I became Queen in 1558, Parliament brought back the Act of Supremacy. To make sure people were happy, the Queen's title was changed from "supreme head" to "supreme governor." This new title made it clear that the monarch wasn't claiming to be divine or above Jesus, who Christians believe is the true head of the Church.

"Defender of the Faith" Title

Another important title for the British monarch is "Defender of the Faith" (in Latin, Fidei Defensor). Pope Leo X first gave this title to Henry VIII in 1521. It was a reward for Henry's writings against the Protestant Reformation.

Even though the Pope later took the title away, the English Parliament gave it back to the monarch during the reign of Edward VI. It has been part of the monarch's full title ever since.

The Thirty-Nine Articles

The monarch's role as Supreme Governor is also mentioned in the Thirty-Nine Articles. These are a set of statements about the beliefs of the Church of England, written in 1562.

The introduction to these articles says that the monarch, as "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church," has a duty to protect and maintain the Church of England.

The Monarch and the Church of Scotland

The British monarch also promises to support the Church of Scotland. This church is Presbyterian, which is a different type of Christian church from the Church of England.

However, the monarch does not lead the Church of Scotland. Instead, they appoint a special representative called the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This person has a ceremonial role. Sometimes, the monarch, like Queen Elizabeth II, has even taken on this role themselves for special events.

List of Supreme Governors

English Monarchs

British Monarchs

See also

In Spanish: Gobernador supremo de la Iglesia de Inglaterra para niños