THE ACT OF SUPREMACY

1534

The name "Act of Supremacy" is given to two separate acts of the English Parliament, one
passed in 1534 and the other in 1559. Both acts had the same purpose; to firmly establish the
English monarch as the official head of the Church of England, supplanting the power of the
Catholic pope in Rome.
1534 Act of Supremacy
Henry's actions in assuming for himself the mantle of ecclesiastical authority were tinged
with self-interest. He had sought in vain for papal approval for his divorce from Catherine of
Aragon, and when it became clear that approval would not be forthcoming,
At the same time, however, Henry had his eye on the wealth of the church, particularly the
property of the monasteries. His lifestyle, and his desire for military glory had left Henry in a
precarious financial position; he needed money, the church had lots of it, so the solution was
obvious - take control of the church and its assets. This he did by asserting his legal right to
act as head of the Church of England.
One important point to note is that the Act effectively made it treasonable to support the
authority of the Pope over the Church of England. By tying the church and monarch so
closely together, support for Catholicism became not simply a statement of personal religious
conviction, but a repudiation of the authority of the monarch, and as such, an act of treason
punishable by death.

Albeit the king's Majesty justly and rightfully is and ought to be the supreme head of the
Church of England, and so is recognized by the clergy of this realm in their convocations, yet
nevertheless, for corroboration and confirmation thereof, and for increase of virtue in Christ's
religion within this realm of England, and to repress and extirpate all errors, heresies, and
other enormities and abuses heretofore used in the same, be it enacted, by authority of this
present Parliament, that the king, our sovereign lord, his heirs and successors, kings of this
realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the only supreme head in earth of the Church of
England, called Anglicans Ecclesia; and shall have and enjoy, annexed and united to the
imperial crown of this realm, as well the title and style thereof, as all honors, dignities,
preeminences, jurisdictions, privileges, authorities, immunities, profits, and commodities to
the said dignity of the supreme head of the same Church belonging and appertaining; and that
our said sovereign lord, his heirs and successors, kings of this realm, shall have full power and
authority from time to time to visit, repress, redress, record, order, correct, restrain, and
amend all such errors, heresies, abuses, offenses, contempts and enormities, whatsoever they
be, which by any manner of spiritual authority or jurisdiction ought or may lawfully be
reformed, repressed, ordered, redressed, corrected, restrained, or amended, most to the
pleasure of Almighty God, the increase of virtue in Christ's religion, and for the conservation
of the peace, unity, and tranquility of this realm; any usage, foreign land, foreign authority,
prescription, or any other thing or things to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.
Questions :

1. Why was the Act of Supremacy passed by Henry VIII ?

2. What is the aim of the Act of Supremacy ?

3. What are the consequences, regarding to Henry VIII’s rights and duties in his realm ?