Act of Supremacy

Passed in 1534 during the Reformation Parliament. It stated that the King is to be the supreme head of the Church of England (and not the Pope). Further, he was approved in an assembly and it was declared that he and his successors ought to be the only supreme heads. In 1534 Henry transferred the act to vicegerent Thomas Cromwell.

Under Mary I, who try to re-Catholicise the country, the title was banned and the Pope became head of the church again. The act was affirmed in 1558 under Elizabeth I, stating that the Queen ought to be the supreme Governor (and no longer the head) by oath of all ecclesiastical offices.

Sources

• Arnold-Baker, Charles. The Companion to British History. Place???: Longcross Press, 1996.
• Cannon, John. A Dictionary of British History. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001.