When henry the VIII became head of church of england was power Essay

When henry the VIII became head of church of england was power confered or confirmd on him by the parliament - Essay Example The Act in Restraint of Appeals partially accepted the Kings position as Supreme Head of both church and state, although it also upheld Cromwells idea that the king- through Parliament controlled the church. Supremacy was a formal recognition of a supremacy which already existed, whilst Cromwell believed that Parliament was needed to create a royal supremacy. Henry now showed his grand pretensions by stating that he was restoring his imperial rights that had been deprived from him and his predecessors by the Papacy itself.2 The nature and effect of the supremacy is of fundamental importance to obtain an understanding of how the English church was to develop. This was and would not be a Reformation from the bottom up or inspired by religious radicals. It was officially sanctioned Reformation from the top to the bottom. For anybody wishing to advance it further or halt it completely against official government policy was brave, devout or foolish. 3 With the Act of Supremacy Henry had gained the right for himself and his heirs to have political, social and religious control over the Church in England. The pace and direction of reforms thus came under the control of the state. The government therefore would only introduce reforms it considered politically expedient. An Act of Succession was also passed placing the children of the Boleyn marriage in the line of succession. Much to Henrys disappointment Anne had given birth to Elizabeth and not the son he wanted and changed so much to obtain. He was not to know that Elizabeth would reign longer than either Mary or Edward, and whilst maybe not as great as her reputation was certainly the most successful of his children. It became treason to deny the Supremacy, the order of Succession and Annes position as Queen, this legislation punished some devout Catholics both high ranking and low ranking.4 The passing of the Act of Supremacy in