Supreme Head of the Church of England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Supreme Head of theChurch of England |
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Flag of England and the Church of England
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| Church of England | |
| Style | Majesty |
| Residence | Palace of Whitehall |
| Constituting instrument | Act of Supremacy of 1534 |
| Precursor | None |
| Formation | 1531 |
| First holder | Henry VIII |
| Final holder | Mary I |
| Abolished | 1555 |
| Succession | Supreme Governor of the Church of England |
The title of Supreme Head of the Church of England was a special role created in 1531. It was first given to King Henry VIII. This happened when he started to separate the Church of England from the power of the Pope in Rome. At that time, the Pope was Pope Clement VII.
In 1534, a law called the Act of Supremacy officially said that the King was the highest authority over the church. All important people had to promise to accept Henry's new role. By 1536, Henry had fully broken away from Rome. He took control of the wealth of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. He then declared the Church of England as the official church of the country, with himself as its head. The Pope, Pope Paul III, later removed Henry from the Catholic Church in 1538. This was because of disagreements over Henry's marriage.
How the Title Changed Over Time
After Henry VIII, his daughter, Queen Mary I, became ruler. She was a strong Catholic. Mary wanted to bring the English church back under the Pope's control. So, in 1555, she cancelled the Act of Supremacy.
However, Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth I, became Queen in 1558. The Parliament then passed a new law, the Act of Supremacy of 1558. This law brought back the original idea of the monarch being in charge of the church. The new promise that nobles had to make called the Queen the supreme governor of the church. This was different from "supreme head." The change was made to avoid saying that the monarch was divine or taking Christ's place, as the Bible says Christ is the true Head of the Church.
Who Held the Title of Supreme Head?
Here is a list of the rulers who held the title of Supreme Head of the Church of England.
| Name | Years in Role | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Henry VIII of England | 1531–1547 | Created the title and separated the Church of England from Rome. |
| Edward VI of England | 1547–1553 | Worked with Thomas Cranmer to approve the Book of Common Prayer. |
| Lady Jane Grey | 1553 | Her time as queen is sometimes debated. |
| Mary I of England and Philip | 1553–1555 | From 1554, they stopped using the title. Mary tried to bring back the Catholic Church in England. |
