How did Queen Elizabeth become head of the England church?

Answer 1

It is her right as reigning monarch. When the Church of England was created there were major upheavals in the church. The Roman Catholic Church had already split as theOrthodox church split away, and Martin Luther had already split forming the protestant movement - so called as they 'protested' against the Roman Catholic Church. These schisms were caused because the Roman Catholic Church were accused of corruption and scandal, and not without reason. Their cruel treatment of dissident groups (like the Cathars) was shameful a,d the Inquisition feared across Europe. Selling indulgences was also another corrupt practice supported by the church, and was regarded as very unchristian. Other manmade doctrines that were seen as being against Christ's own teaching helped to ensure that the split happened. It was in this atmosphere that Henry VIII upset the pope over several issues, the last straw being the pope's refusal to grant Henry an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, despite other annulments of marriages being accepted by the Vatican. The Vatican excommunicated Henry from the Church, in their belief virtually damning him to hell. This was the last straw for Henry and so he joined the bandwagon and split with Rome in the same way as the Orthodox Church and the Lutheran protestants. He declared the new protestant Church of England and, by virtue of his position as monarch (and let's not forget, at his coronation he swore that he would pay allegiance to God whatever happened) he declared that the head of the church would be Jesus Christ ( and not the pope) and he would be the supreme governor of the Church. Since then, the reigning monarch automatically takes on the title of supreme governor, so that the present one is the Queen. At her death, the next in line to the throne (Prince Charles) will take her place.