The Act of Supremacy
History: KS3, topic 5.2.7
The Act of Supremacy, 1534
To secure the break with Rome, Henry VIII passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534.
The Act of Supremacy, 1534
- Under the Act of Supremacy 1534, Henry became the Head of the Church in England, not the Pope.
- He could set church beliefs, decide how the church should be organised and appoint whoever he wanted to important positions in the Church.
- Cromwell was appointed Vicegerent in religious matters.
Actual impact of the Act of Supremacy
- It didn’t actually make that much of a difference to the way the Church was run in England.
- The Pope had always appointed important clergymen but generally agreed with whoever the King suggested.
- Appeals in Church courts were very rarely referred to Rome, and the Pope didn’t really tell English people what to believe as the basics were well-established anyway.
Test yourself on The Act of Supremacy
Did the Act of Supremacy make a significant difference to the way the Church was run in England?
Who was appointed Vicegerent in religious matters after the Act of Supremacy was passed?