Henry VIII's first overt act against the Papacy came in 1532 w

hen he caused legislation to be introduced in Parliament to end the payment of church taxes to Rome, and prevent appeals out of England in Ecclesiastical cases. This unsuccessful attempt to pressure the pope into granting an annulment was followed by the Act of Supremacy that made Henry 'supreme head, under Christ, of the Church of England'. The Convocations reluctantly agreed to the change, and shortly afterwards William Wareham, Archbishop of Canterbury died and was replaced by Thomas Cranmer, a scholar with sympathies for the Lutheran Reformation. Cranmer is, in some ways, an mysterious figure. Born in Aslockton, Notts, into a minor gentry family, he was educated at Cambridge, married, was widowed, ordained, and re-entered academic life. Essentially a scholar he was thrust into the limelight of public affairs by catching the eye of the King at a crucial time in English history. As a result Cranmer was sent by Henry VIII to be English minister Nuremberg. His task was friendly to Cranmer who was already a theologically Lutheran. Once in Nuremberg he met and married the niece of Osiander, the chief Lutheran minister in the city. You can imagine his horror when he was recalled to England to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, as clerical celibacy was still required by law in England.

Elizabeth's long reign allowed the Church of England to grow spiritually and intellectually.

Although a closet Lutheran, Cranmer enjoyed the favour and protection of Henry VIII throughout his reign. Cautious m

Some topics in this essay:
Church England, Edward VI, Aslockton Notts, Henry VIII, Durham Carlisle, Papal Legate, Henry VIII's, Spain France, Church England's, Ten Articles, church england, edward vi, henry viii, henry hoped found, henry hoped, favoured learning, reign edward, archbishop canterbury, hoped found, england archbishop, book common prayer, reign edward vi, book common,