Reformation of the church was most often sought due to theological principles and authentic desire for papal integrity, but during the sixteenth century, King Henry VIII initiated reform in England due to his political needs. While Henry VIII believed the teachings of the church, it was evident through the scope of his reign that he had no theological problem adjusting some of those religious beliefs to meet his political and personal whims.

Henry’s marriage to Catharine of Aragon was an effort to strengthen ties with Spain – however, the legitimacy of the union was not certain as Catharine was Henry’s brother’s widow. As king, it was very important for Henry to produce a male heir to his throne in order to continue the power and legacy of his throne, but also to retain good religious standing by showing God’s presumed approval through a son. While Henry and his wife Catharine of Aragon did have a daughter, through time it became clear that they would not have a son. This created a big problem for Henry, who sought annulment from his unhappy marriage through the pope. Pope Clement VII was rightly concerned about his standing with Spain if he should approve the annulment and so he delayed as long as he could. It was suggested to Henry through papal representatives that he take a secret wife, although it would do no good to have an heir if Henry could not make him public. Catholic scholars agreed that Henry and Catherine’s marriage was invalid. While the marriage was considered invalid, the pope still resisted annulment, causing Henry to gradually shift authority of the church under himself as king and away from Rome. Doctrine was not the issue nor motivator – power and politics were.

In 1533 Henry managed to get annulment through ecclesiastical court, resulting in his excommunication by the pope. In response, Henry VIII issued a legal document refuting the pope’s authority and demanding a ‘loyalty oath’ to the king; abstaining was punishable by death. This document, Act of Supremecy of 1534, explicitly placed the King of England as head of the Church of England and use such language to describe the king as “sovereign lord” and “the only supreme head on earth.” Authority to interpret and enforce ecclesiastical duties in England was not the job of the pope in Rome, but of the English king and he alone “shall have full power and authority…(to) amend all errors, heresies, abuses…by any manner spiritual authority or jurisdiction ought or may lawfully be reformed, repressed, ordered…” Of course now that Henry had given himself the authority, he officially annulled his own marriage and then legalized his next marriage that had already taken place in private.

Henry’s split from the Roman church naturally was seen by Protestant Reformers as an encouraging sign. However, the reformation Henry had in mind had nothing to do with restoring integrity to church leadership or the revision of theological teachings that the Protestants championed. In fact, he wanted no part of a Protestant Reformation in England. Henry made this clear in his Act of Six Articles in 1539. In this document, Henry lists out several of the hottest topics for reformers and comes out strongly in favor of the Catholic church’s traditional position. For example, on the question of transubstantiation, it is deemed that the bread and wine do change substance completely to that only of the body and blood of Jesus. This position had been greatly contested by reformers, along with that of the position of the ability of clergy to marry. While the reformers saw no Biblical argument for clergy to remain unwed, Henry VIII agreed with the Catholic church’s stance in his articles that this tradition must be upheld. Anyone who disagreed (in teaching, writing, speaking, or even in mere opinion) would be declared a heretic, found guilty of treason and executed. These strong decrees clearly positioned Henry VIII’s new Church of England in alignment theologically with the Roman Catholic Church – in seemingly every way except that of the papal authority.