UK Citizenship Practice Test 2025 - Free Citizenship Practice Questions and Study Guide

Henry VII did not establish the Church of England; it was actually his son, Henry VIII, who did so. The primary reason for Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England was indeed to obtain a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII sought the pope's approval for this divorce because he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, with whom he had fallen in love and hoped to father a male heir.

When the pope denied his request, Henry VIII took control of the church in England, thereby allowing himself the divorce and facilitating the subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn. This pivotal moment not only altered the religious landscape of England but also consolidated the monarch's power over religious matters, marking the beginning of the English Reformation.

Thus, the establishment of the Church of England was primarily driven by Henry VIII's personal desires rather than broader political ambitions or religious reform initiatives.