King Henry VIII and his separation from the Catholic Church

King Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. He is perhaps best known as the king who had six wives and as the king who separated from the Catholic Church to create the Church of England. 

King Henry VIII had many wives for various reasons. His first wife was a political marriage that his father made him do. His 2nd marriage to Anne Boleyn was for love and because he needed a male heir. His 3rd marriage was again because he needed a male heir. His 4th wife was for political reasons and his 5th wife was because he fell in love again. Finally his 6th wife was there to take care of him and give him companionship in his old age.

The separation of the Church of England from the Roman  Catholic Church started in 1543 when Henry VIII was seeking an annulment from his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Since the marriage was entered under papal dispensation and Catherine's nephew was Emperor Charles V, Pope Clement VII refused to give an annulment. This led to Henry VIII declaring himself Supreme Head of the Church of England to ensure the annulment of his marriage. 

Under his rule however the Church of England did not see many protestant reforms and in fact stayed true to the many traditional Catholic practices. It wasn't until his son, Edward VI, became king that more protestant-influenced forms of worship were adopted. However his short rule led to the succession of Queen Mary I who cut the reformations short and returned England to the authority of the Papacy. Queen Mary I died childless however and her half sister, Elizabeth I was left to resolve the direction the Church was heading. Her rule lead to a sort of middle ground where it was moderately reformed in doctrine, but also emphasized continuity with the Catholic and Apostolic traditions.

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