Why did King Henry VIII have a significant impact on English religion?

Henry VIII formed his own church, and proclaimed it the state religion of England.

Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 until 1547. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had been married to Henry's brother, Arthur. At the time, special consent of the Roman Catholic church was needed and obtained so that Catherine could marry Henry. They were married for over twenty years, and had one surviving child, Mary. Henry reportedly had various mistresses,...

Henry VIII formed his own church, and proclaimed it the state religion of England.

Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 until 1547. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had been married to Henry's brother, Arthur. At the time, special consent of the Roman Catholic church was needed and obtained so that Catherine could marry Henry. They were married for over twenty years, and had one surviving child, Mary. Henry reportedly had various mistresses, including Mary Boleyn. Henry wanted Mary Boleyn's sister Anne as another mistress, but she refused. Henry petitioned the Pope for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine on the grounds she had been married before. He was refused, despite repeated requests and threats. Henry then proclaimed himself head of the church in England and turned England towards Protestantism. The new church had a lot of similarities to the Roman Catholic church, but various differences exist--fewer sacraments, for example. But the newly formed church allowed Henry to divorce Catherine and marry Anne. They had one child, Queen Elizabeth I. Henry had Anne beheaded in 1536.