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Henry VIII and Religion

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Henry VIII and Religion

You are a Tudor investigator preparing a briefing on how Henry VIII changed religion in England. Read the evidence, study the timeline, and use both to support your conclusions. Answer in your own words unless a question asks you to choose or match.

Evidence file: a kingdom changes

In the 1530s, Henry VIII wanted his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. The Pope would not grant the annulment. Henry and his advisers therefore challenged the Pope’s authority in England. The Act of Supremacy, passed in 1534, declared Henry the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This was a major political change, but it did not immediately make the English Church Protestant in its beliefs and worship: many traditional Catholic practices remained during Henry’s reign. From 1536, royal commissioners investigated monasteries. The government closed them over the following years and took control of their land and wealth. Some people welcomed the changes; others feared the loss of religious communities and local help for the poor. In 1536, people in northern England rose in the Pilgrimage of Grace, partly in protest against the religious changes and monastery closures. The rebellion was eventually defeated. Those who openly rejected the royal supremacy could face severe punishment. Thomas More, a former leading adviser to Henry, refused to accept the king as head of the Church and was executed for treason in 1535. John Fisher, a bishop who also opposed the supremacy, was executed in the same year. Their cases show that the break with Rome was enforced as well as debated.

Year

Event

Why it matters

1534

Act of Supremacy

Henry declared Supreme Head of the Church of England

1535

Thomas More and John Fisher executed

Opposition to royal supremacy was punished

1536 onwards

Monasteries closed

The Crown took monastic land and wealth

1536

Pilgrimage of Grace

A major northern rebellion protested against changes, including monastery closures

Investigate the evidence

Answer Questions 1–10. Use details from the evidence file and timeline where relevant.

1.Which event most directly prompted Henry to challenge the Pope’s authority, according to the evidence file?

The Pope refused to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon
The monasteries refused to pay taxes
The Pilgrimage of Grace began
Thomas More became a bishop

2.In what year did the Act of Supremacy make Henry Supreme Head of the Church of England?

3.Match each person or group to the description that best fits.

Thomas More
Pilgrims in the Pilgrimage of Grace
Henry VIII

Declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England
Refused to accept royal supremacy and was executed in 1535
Rebelled in northern England, partly against religious changes and monastery closures

4.True or false? The Act of Supremacy immediately changed every aspect of English worship into Protestant practice. Use one detail from the evidence file to explain your choice.

5.Complete the sentence: The government closed the monasteries and took control of their and .

6.Give one reason why some people might have welcomed the closure of monasteries and one reason why others might have opposed it.

7.What does the execution of Thomas More and John Fisher suggest about the consequences of opposing Henry’s religious policy?

8.Put these events in chronological order, from earliest to latest: monastery closures began; Act of Supremacy; Pilgrimage of Grace; executions of More and Fisher.

9.Explain one way the break with Rome strengthened Henry’s political power and one way it brought resistance.

10.Historical judgement: Was Henry’s break with Rome mainly about his personal marriage, political control, or religious belief? Choose the factor you think mattered most and support your judgement with two pieces of evidence from the sheet. You may also explain why another factor mattered less.