English Reformation Parliament

Under the direction of King Henry VIII of England, the Reformation Parliament was the first in English history to deal with major religious legislation, much of it orchestrated by, among others, the Boleyn family and Thomas Cromwell.

His wife, Catherine of Aragon, was increasingly considered to be past child-bearing age, and in Henry’s mind, having a female on the throne (i.e, his only legitimate heir, later Mary I of England) would destabilize the country.

[4] Henry then concluded that a divorce was needed in order for him to marry Anne Boleyn and sent Cardinal Wolsey to negotiate with Pope Clement VII.

[4] Henry then consulted with his advisors including Thomas Cromwell to address the influence of canonical law in England.

The major pieces of legislation from the Reformation Parliament included: An Act was passed to prevent the clergy from being subject to separate canonical courts.

They were levied on any diocese by Rome as payment in return for the nomination and papal authorization for the consecration of a bishop.

[3] Ultimately, as “supreme head” of the church,[10] this act provided Henry the ability to legally divorce Katherine and marry Anne Boleyn.

[3] Most importantly, it provided the foundation for subsequent legislative reform concerning the English church and the monarch’s authority.

It quickly followed the receipt of a survey called Valor Ecclesiasticus, but applied only to religious houses with an income of less than two hundred pounds a year.

[14] In reality, the corruption of the clergy was most likely not as severe as Cromwell purported, and most laity seemed satisfied that their spiritual and pastoral needs were being met.

Additionally, dissolution would also provide a means to win loyalty by enriching landowners by bestowing them these smaller monastic lands.