Until the mid-16th century, the English Church has been Roman Catholic, under the authority of the Pope. In 1527, Pope Clement VII refuses to annul King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, leading to a bitter political dispute which results in England’s schism with the Catholic Church. From 1534 onwards, England’s monarch is styled “Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England” in place of the Pope (this title is briefly revoked by Queen Mary I, but reinstated by Elizabeth I).
This act sets in motion a chain of events that leads to the English Reformation and shapes the distinctive identity of the Church of England. Today’s Church is rooted in its ancient heritage with many Protestant influences, often described as being “both catholic and reformed”.
