1. The request of King Henry VIII for an annulment of his marriage to Anne Boleyn was refused by Pope Clement VII in 1534, which led to the break between the Catholic Church and England.
2. More than the outcome of a single cause, the split with Rome and the establishment of a separate English church was motivated by a combination of personal avarice, financial temptation, and genuine religious zeal.
3. This single cause was not even a contributing factor.

Why did Henry VIII break away from the Catholic Church?

1. The United Kingdom and the Roman Catholic Church A. Thesis: King Henry cut relations with the Catholic Church in order to essentially continue governing under primogeniture, which is why he did so. B. The reluctance, meddling, and influence of the Pope were further factors that contributed to Henry VIII’s decision to divorce his wife.

What were the consequences of the break away from the Catholic Church?

The split from the Catholic Church had repercussions that reached far into the future and challenged the established order of the world at the time. Prior to the rupture with the Catholic Church, the hierarchy that was generally acknowledged was God, the pope, and the monarch. However, Henry VIII made a move that was unique by inserting himself between the pope and God.